PTC President Brent Bozell went to Capitol Hill on January 19^th to demand that Congress answer the call of families across America to protect their children from gratuitous sex and violence on television.  His demand came at the second indecency hearing held in as many months by the Senate Commerce Committee, but this time Bozell, representing the PTC, was the lone voice representing America's families.  The hearing room was packed with powerful entertainment industry lobbyists and insiders trying to convince lawmakers that suddenly they were serious about protecting children.  They talked about increased vigilance in ratings and increasing efforts to educate parents about blocking technology and the V-chip. 

Bozell called it all a dodge. His clarion call cut through the Hollywood rhetoric and reminded everyone in the room that it had been nearly two years since Janet Jackson exposed her breast during the Super Bowl; two years since Congress had promised to issue real penalties for those who violate broadcast decency laws; and two years without any action from the Senate. The PTC made sure Senators heard the voice of America's families who are saying, "We demand action."

"Millions of Americans are looking to the Senate to fulfill its promise to increase the financial penalty for those who break the law. And, they are also demanding you do something about a system that is forcing them to subsidize cable content they find morally offensive," Bozell said.  He then took the bold step of describing – in graphic detail - some of the obscene content that has recently aired on broadcast and cable television during prime-time, including a teen orgy scene on CBS, and a scene from Nip/Tuck in which a funeral home worker has sex with a corpse comprised of parts from many dead bodies.  Senators were clearly shocked by these descriptions.

But what about the Hollywood insiders present? 

They offered no solutions and made no promises.  Instead, they trotted out the same tired lines and excuses they've been using for years.  They disingenuously offered up ridiculous "family programming tiers" they know nobody will want.  They promised to bankroll a $300 million campaign to educate parents about the V-Chip and the television ratings systems, even though PTC research has proven that the ratings are meaningless.  They kept touting "parental responsibility" as the key to protecting children.  They hid behind the "First Amendment" and "artistic freedom."  They took no responsibility for the filth they put on our airwaves, or the raunch they force us to subsidize via our cable bills.

The televised hearing gave a very clear picture of what, exactly, the PTC is up against.  Seated in front of the Senators were representatives from the National Association of Broadcasters, Viacom/CBS, Comcast, Echostar (Dish Network), the Screen Actors Guild, the American Psychological Association, the former chief executive of the Motion Picture Association of America…. and Brent Bozell for the Parents Television Council.  But the PTC was there for a reason: lawmakers know the PTC speaks for millions of American families and is the recognized authority on broadcast decency.  At the hearing Brent Bozell made it very clear to all present:  We are not about to let another year pass without the passage of a Broadcast Decency Enforcement bill and Cable Choice.