"I know that it's over for me...I have been really good at predicting my career and I know when I'm outmatched. It's over for me as a broadcaster. I'm checkmated. All they gotta do is fine us and then we're gone. And there's nothing we can do about it."
On recent shows, Stern has continued to rail against Clear Channel, the company which pulled his show from 6 of its radio stations. He has also pointed fingers at the Bush administration, claiming he is being targeted because he does not support the administration’s political agenda.
In a chilling development, the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted this week to increase the fine for on-air indecency to a whopping $500,000 per violation from the current $27,500 per incident. This is twice as high as media watchers predicted they might go. Many broadcasters knew there was a chance fines would increase 10 fold - to $275,000 - but this new development is a sobering wake-up call to Radio executives and Program Directors alike.
In addition, lawmakers are considering a change in law which would force the F.C.C. to deal with complaints in a more timely manner. Revised legislation would not allow the agency to let allegations of indecency go undetermined for longer than 6 months, as opposed to the past where some allegations sat for years before a decision and fine, if appropriate, were determined.
