WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Federal Communications Commission is contemplating tougher obscenity penalties for radio companies that feature "shock jocks" whose edgy and sometimes vulgar fare is well-known to radio listeners across the nation, according to an FCC source.
Roughly a dozen cases are nearing resolution at the FCC, with Howard Stern and his outlet, Viacom's Infinity Broadcasting, potentially facing stiff punishment.
Separately, the FCC is expected to undo an earlier ruling that had found singer Bono did not break broadcast rules when he used obscene language on the 2003 Golden Globes broadcast.
However, a fine against NBC, which aired the awards ceremony, is not expected to accompany the reversed ruling.
A House committee earlier this week recommended hiking the maximum fine for airing indecent material to $500,000 from $27,500. The bill could be considered on the House floor as early as next week. A similar bill has been introduced in the Senate.
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