[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2010 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2010

   To require the Federal Communications Commission to follow normal 
   rulemaking procedures in establishing additional requirements for 
           noncommercial educational television broadcasters.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 27, 2000

 Mr. Brownback (for himself, Mr. Nickles, Mr. Ashcroft, Mr. Craig, Mr. 
    Shelby, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Lott, Mr. Enzi, and Mr. Smith of New 
  Hampshire) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To require the Federal Communications Commission to follow normal 
   rulemaking procedures in establishing additional requirements for 
           noncommercial educational television broadcasters.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Noncommercial Broadcasting Freedom 
Act''.

SEC. 2. COMPLIANCE WITH RULEMAKING PROCEDURES REQUIRED.

    (a) Limitation.--After the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Federal Communications Commission shall not establish, expand, or 
otherwise modify requirements relating to the service obligations of 
noncommercial educational television stations except by means of agency 
rulemaking conducted in accordance with chapter 5 of title 5, United 
States Code, or other applicable law.
    (b) Termination of Effect of Additional Guidance.--The additional 
guidance contained in paragraphs 43 and 44 of the Commission's 
memorandum opinion and order in WQED Pittsburgh (FCC 99-393), adopted 
December 15, 1999, and released December 29, 1999, shall not be 
effective after the date of enactment of this Act except to the extent 
such guidance is prescribed in accordance with subsection (a).
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