House and Senate negotiators reached a deal Wednesday on legislation that would raise the fines broadcasters and on-air performers would face for smutty language and behavior, but Democratic insistence on other media restrictions could derail the legislation, industry and congressional sources said. The commission could lower or raise the fines if a number of conditions are met, including the ability of the accused to pay, whether the programming was recorded, the size of the audience and how much control the broadcaster had over the programming. A series of stricter provisions were not included in the compromise, including language freezing the current media ownership rules, requirements that the FCC revoke a license for repeated offenders and legislation that would require violent broadcast programming to be shunted to the late-night hours.

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