Senator Who Targeted Pay-TV Now Aims at Online Adult

WASHINGTON — Sen. Ted Stevens, the Republican from Alaska who is attempting to pave way for regulators to have the right to regulate content on pay-TV stations, has expanded his target to limit free speech.

This time it is the Internet.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation indicated that Internet decency regulations could be inserted into legislation that was originally intended to boost fines for radio and TV broadcasts that are deemed obscene.

"We ought to find some way to say, 'Here is a block of channels —— whether it's delivered by broadband, by VoIP, by whatever it is — to a home that is clear of the stuff you don't want your children to see,'" said Stevens, who noted he was in favor of a ratings system.

“We're looking to create tiers, or create a system like the movie business ... to let us develop a ratings system," he said.

Earlier this month at the National Association of Broadcasters' annual state leadership convention, Stevens said that because most people receive their TV via cable or satellite, the government has the power to regulate indecency. At the conference, Stevens said he would target video-on-demand and pay-per-view in future legislation, as well.

Last year, Stevens co-authored a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking that peer-to-peer networks be investigated because they provide access to online adult material.

A first wave of Internet decency wars took place nearly 10 years ago, when Congress enacted the Communications Decency Act, which punished the transmission of indecent or "patently offensive" material with up to two years in prison and fines of $250,000.

The U.S. Supreme Court in 1997 rejected those portions of the law, but didn't comment about the constitutionality of a law that would require certain types of web publishers to rate sexually explicit sites through a mechanism like the Platform for Internet Content Selection, which is built into the Internet Explorer browser.

Calls to Stevens and his aides by XBiz weren’t returned Tuesday evening.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Taylor Nicole Launches New Site Through YourPaysitePartner

Creator Taylor Nicole has launched her new official website through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Adult Networking Platform SpicyGigs.com Launches

SpicyGigs, a new adult industry networking platform, has officially launched.

Pineapple Support to Host 'Cream Pie Challenge' Fundraiser

Pineapple Support is hosting its Cream Pie Challenge through August to raise funds for mental health services for industry performers.

Kyrgyzstan President Signs Measure Outlawing Internet Porn

President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday signed into law legislation outlawing online adult content in the country.

NC Legislature Overrides Veto of Extreme Anti-Adult Industry Bill

The North Carolina state legislature on Tuesday voted to override Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of a bill imposing regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most creators and content.

Report: VPN Downloads Soar in UK Following Age Verification Deadline

Virtual private network apps, which can be used to circumvent geo-specific age verification requirements, are topping Apple App Store downloads in the U.K. in the wake of new Online Safety Act rules, the BBC is reporting.

Strike 3 Holdings Sues Meta for Pirating Vixen Media Group Content to Train AI

Vixen Media Group owner Strike 3 Holdings filed suit in federal court this week, accusing Facebook parent company Meta of copyright infringement and alleging that Meta has extensively pirated VMG content to train its artificial intelligence models.

Pineapple Support, Streamate to Host 'Navigating Grief and Loss' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Streamate are hosting a free online support group to help performers cope with grief and loss.

Friday is Final AV Compliance Deadline in UK

Friday, July 25 marks U.K. media regulator Ofcom’s deadline for user-to-user services such as tube, cam and fan sites to implement its requisite “highly effective age assurance” measures for preventing minors from viewing adult content.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for May, June

AEBN has released the top search terms for the months of May and June from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Show More