Broadcasters such as Rupert Murdoch’s Fox and Sumner Redstone’s CBS will be forced to dig much deeper into their pockets if they are found guilty of violating indecency rules following the passage of legislation on Wednesday in the House of Representatives.

The Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act will increase the top fine the Federal Communications Commission, the media and telecommunications regulator, can impose on a broadcaster for each indecency violation from $32,500 (€25,380, £17,490) to $325,000. The FCC cannot fine a broadcaster in excess of $3m for any single act.