[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2518 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2518

 To provide for the technical integrity of the FM radio band, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 8, 2000

  Mr. McCain introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide for the technical integrity of the FM radio band, and for 
                            other purposes.

    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 ``FM Radio Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to ensure the technical integrity of 
the FM radio band, while permitting the introduction of low power FM 
transmitters into such band without causing harmful interference.

SEC. 3. INTERFERENCE PROHIBITED.

    (a) Any low power radio licensee that transmits a signal causing 
harmful interference (as determined by the National Academy of 
Sciences) to the signal of any full power radio station shall cease the 
transmission of all signals, and may not recommence transmitting 
signals until it has taken such steps as the National Academy of 
Sciences determines to be necessary to ensure that such signals will 
not cause harmful interference to the signal of any full power radio 
station.
    (b) Any full power radio licensee may bring a cause of action 
against a low power radio licensee that has transmitted a signal that 
has caused harmful interference to the signal of such full power 
licensee in any district court of the United States of competent 
jurisdiction.
    (c) In any action brought pursuant to the provisions of subsection 
(b), the burden of proof shall be borne by the low power radio 
licensee.
    (d) In any action brought pursuant to the provisions of subsection 
(b), the costs incurred by the National Academy of Sciences shall be 
borne by--
            (1) the low power radio licensee, if the National Academy 
        of Sciences determines that the signals transmitted by such 
        licensee caused harmful interference; or
            (2) the full power radio licensee, if the National Academy 
        of Sciences determines that the signals transmitted by such 
        licensee caused harmful interference.

SEC. 4. DIGITAL RADIO TRANSITION.

    The Federal Communications Commission shall complete all 
rulemakings necessary to implement the transition to digital radio no 
later than June 1, 2001.
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