When Sen. Daniel Inouye, the co-chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, talks about ultra-sexy offerings on cable and satellite television, everyone should take heed.

Especially cable or satellite operators.

The Federal Communicatons Commission has noticed the growing amount of adult material on cable, saying the industry leaves too much to chance that young children will be exposed to smut.

It has led FCC chairman Kevin Martin to suggest to Congress the need for federal decency standards.

Inouye backed him up with this warning to cable and satellite operators: "If you don't come up with an answer, we will."

Inouye is right. But it's also true that the First Amendment is an important right.

Federal decency standards would mean government control that's just short of chilling censorship that could extend not just to cable and satellite providers, but to on-air broadcasters as well. We can avoid an unnecessary debate on censorship if the industry merely acts responsibly and cleans up its act — quickly.