[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1600 Introduced in Senate (IS)]


109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1600

   To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure full access to 
  digital television in areas served by low-power television, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 29, 2005

 Ms. Snowe (for herself and Mr. Hatch) introduced the following bill; 
    which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure full access to 
  digital television in areas served by low-power television, and for 
                            other purposes.

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

                     TITLE I--LOW-POWER TELEVISION

SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Digital Translator and Low-Power 
Television Transition Assistance Act''.

SEC. 102. DEADLINE FOR CONVERSION OF TRANSLATOR STATIONS AND LOW-POWER 
              ANALOG TELEVISION STATIONS.

    (a) Digital Transition Period.--Section 336(f)(4) of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 336(f)(4)) is amended by striking 
``such transition period.'' in the last sentence and inserting ``4 
years after the date beyond which a television broadcast license may 
not be renewed under section 309(j)(14) of this Act.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 337(e)(1) of the Communications 
Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 337(e)(1)) is amended by striking ``on which the 
digital television service transition period terminates, as determined 
by the Commission.'' and inserting ``that is 4 years after the date 
beyond which a television broadcast license may not be renewed under 
section 309(j)(14) of this Act.''.

SEC. 103. LOW-POWER DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION.

    (a) Trust Fund.--There is established on the books of the Treasury 
a separate fund to be known as the ``Low-power Digital Television 
Transition Trust Fund'', which shall be administered by the Assistant 
Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.
    (b) Source of Funds.--Paragraph (8) of section 309(j) of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``or subparagraph (D)'' in subparagraph 
        (A) after ``subparagraph (B)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(D) Disposition of proceeds from auction of 
                channels 52 through 69.--So much of the proceeds 
                attributable to the auction of any eligible frequencies 
                on the electromagnetic spectrum conducted after the 
                date of enactment of the Low-Power Digital Television 
                Transition Assistance Act as does not exceed 
                $100,000,000, after the retention of revenues provided 
                for in subparagraph (B), shall be deposited in the Low-
                power Digital Television Transition Trust Fund.''.
    (c) Grant Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for 
        Communications and Information shall establish a program under 
        which grants may be made by the National Telecommunications and 
        Information Administration to eligible licensees of qualifying 
        low-power television stations under section 336 of the 
        Communications Act of 1934, State and local governments, and 
        community organizations for the purpose of--
                    (A) upgrading low-power television translator 
                stations from analog to digital in eligible rural 
                communities (as defined in section 601(b)(2) of the 
                Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 
                950bb(b)(2)) and other areas served by low-power 
                television broadcast stations; and
                    (B) extending digital television broadcast signals 
                to unserved households (as defined section 119(d)(10) 
                of title 17, United States Code) located in such 
                eligible rural communities and other areas.
            (2) Applications and conditions.--In conducting the 
        program, the Assistant Secretary--
                    (A) shall establish a notification and application 
                procedure;
                    (B) may establish such conditions, and require such 
                assurances, as may be appropriate to ensure the 
                efficiency and integrity of the grant program; and
                    (C) may make grants under the program on a matching 
                or nonmatching basis.
            (3) Eligible licensees.--In this subsection, the term 
        ``eligible licensee'' means the licensee or permittee of a low-
        power television station licensee or low-power television 
        translator station as such terms as used in sections 336 and 
        337 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 336 and 337)).
            (4) Reversion of unused funds.--Any unobligated amounts in 
        the Low-power Digital Television Transition Fund remaining 
        after the date on which the low-power digital television 
        service transition period (as defined in section 336(i)(3) of 
        the Communications Act of 1934) shall revert to and be 
        deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.

SEC. 104. FCC STATUS REPORT ON LOW-POWER TELEVISION AND TELEVISION 
              TRANSLATOR STATIONS.

    Within 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Federal Communications Commission shall transmit to the Senate 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of 
Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce and report and 
recommendations on the status of low-power television stations and low-
power television translator stations.

                  TITLE II--INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION

SEC. 201. INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION STUDY.

    Beginning February 1, 2006, and ending when international 
coordination with Canada and Mexico of the DTV table of allotments is 
complete, the Federal Communications Commission shall submit reports 
every 6 months on the status of that international coordination to the 
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House 
of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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