text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Television and Radio Program 
  Violence Reduction Act of 1993''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress makes the following findings:
              (1) Television and radio programming are bringing ever-
          increasing levels of violent programming into the American 
          home. Over 25 percent of prime-time television shows contain 
          `very violent' material, according to the National Coalition on 
          Television Violence.
              (2) Prime time violence tripled during the 1980's, the 
          American Academy of Pediatrics reports.
              (3) Programs developed for children are especially violent. 
          A University of Pennsylvania study found that children's 
          programming contains over 30 violent acts per hour.
              (4) Before the average child finishes grade school, he or 
          she sees 8,000 murders and 100,000 acts of violence on 
          television.
              (5) Numerous academic studies have built up astonishing 
          evidence that shows children tend to imitate the behavior they 
          see on television. The National Institute of Mental Health 
          finds that violence on television leads to aggressive behavior 
          by children and teenagers who watch violent programs.
              (6) Three different Surgeons General, the Attorney 
          General's Task Force on Family Violence, the American Medical 
          Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American 
          Academy of Pediatrics, and other authorities have all found 
          that viewing televised violence is harmful to children.
              (7) Americans watch enormous amounts of television, and 
          many children will watch television for twice as many hours 
          (22,000 hours) as they attend school.
              (8) Many children watch violent television programs without 
          adult supervision or guidance.
              (9) More than 20 years of research has led to a consensus 
          that watching televised violence increases children's 
          aggressiveness and desensitizes them to the effects and 
          implications of violence, and the solidity of the agreement 
          among respected scientists that televised violence is harmful 
          nullifies arguments to the contrary by the television industry.
              (10) There is a need to find solutions that limit the 
          harmful influence of television and radio violence and yet 
          maintain our freedom of expression.
  
  SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
  
      As used in this Act:
              (1) The term ``violence'' means any action that has as an 
          element the use or threatened use of physical force against the 
          person of another, or against one's self, with intent to cause 
          bodily harm to such person or one's self. For purposes of this 
          Act, an action may involve violence regardless of whether or 
          not such action or threat of action occurs in a realistic or 
          serious context or in a humorous or cartoon type context.
              (2) The term ``programming'' includes cartoons.
              (3) The term ``child'' or ``children'' means any individual 
          or individuals under 18 years of age.
              (4) The term ``person'' shall have the same meaning given 
          that term under section 602(14) of the Communications Act of 
          1934 (47 U.S.C. 522(14)).
              (5) The term ``cable operator'' shall have the same meaning 
          given that term under section 602(4) of the Communications Act 
          of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 522(4)).
              (6) The term ``cable service'' shall have the same meaning 
          given that term under section 602(5) of the Communications Act 
          of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 522(5)).
              (7) The term ``television or radio broadcast licensee'' 
          means a ``licensee'' as defined in section 3(c) of the 
          Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153(c)) authorized to 
          engage in television or radio broadcasting, including 
          independent television broadcasting.
              (8) The term ``franchising authority'' shall have the same 
          meaning given that term under section 602(10) of the 
          Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 522(10)).
  
  SEC. 4. RULEMAKING REQUIRED.
  
      (a) Standards.--The Federal Communications Commission shall, within 
  60 days after the date of the enactment of this section, initiate a 
  rulemaking proceeding to prescribe standards applicable to television 
  and radio broadcast licensees and cable operators providing cable 
  service under a franchise granted by a franchising authority, requiring 
  such television or radio broadcast licensees and cable operators, 
  including cable programmers, to reduce the broadcasting of all video 
  and audio programming which contains violence.
      (b) Final Standards.--The Commission shall, within 150 days 
  following the date of the enactment of this Act, prescribe final 
  standards in accordance with this section.
  
  SEC. 5. VIOLATIONS.
  
      (a) Violations.--If a person violates any rule or regulation issued 
  or promulgated pursuant to section 3, the Federal Communications 
  Commission shall, after notice and opportunity for hearing, impose on 
  the person a civil fine of not more than $5,000. For purposes of this 
  subsection, each program in violation constitutes a separate violation.
      (b) Intentional Violations.--If a person intentionally violates any 
  rule or regulation issued or promulgated pursuant to section 3, the 
  Federal Communications Commission shall, after notice and opportunity 
  for hearing, impose on the person a civil fine of not less than $10,000 
  or more than $25,000. For purposes of this subsection, each program in 
  violation constitutes a separate violation.
      (c) Repeated Violations.--If a person repeatedly violates any rule 
  or regulation issued or promulgated pursuant to section 3, the Federal 
  Communications Commission shall, after notice and opportunity for 
  hearing, immediately repeal the person's broadcast license in the case 
  of a broadcaster, and immediately repeal the person's satellite license 
  in the case of the cable operator.
  
  SEC. 6. EXCEPTIONS FOR CERTAIN VIDEO PROGRAMMING.
  
      The Federal Communications Commission may exempt, as public 
  interest requires, certain video and audio programming from the 
  requirements of section 3, including news broadcasts, sporting events, 
  educational programming and documentaries.
  
  SEC. 7. CONSIDERATION OF VIOLATIONS IN BROADCAST LICENSE RENEWAL.
  
      The Federal Communications Commission shall consider, among the 
  elements in its review of an application for renewal of a television or 
  radio broadcast license, including an independent television 
  broadcaster, whether the licensee has complied with the standards 
  required to be prescribed under section 3 of this Act.
target: Television and Radio Program Violence Reduction Act of 1993 - Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prescribe standards requiring television and radio broadcast licensees and cable operators, including cable programmers, to reduce the broadcasting of all video and audio programming which contains violence. 
  Authorizes the FCC to exempt, as public interest requires, certain video and audio programming, including news broadcasts, sporting events, educational programming, and documentaries. 
  Directs the FCC to consider, in its review of an application for renewal of a television or radio broadcast license, whether the licensee has complied with this Act.
feat_title: Television and Radio Program Violence Reduction Act of 1993