[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4986 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>





                                                 Union Calendar No. 445
115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4986

                      [Report No. 115-587, Part I]

 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reauthorize appropriations 
   for the Federal Communications Commission, to provide for certain 
     procedural changes to the rules of the Commission to maximize 
 opportunities for public participation and efficient decisionmaking, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 8, 2018

Mrs. Blackburn introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, and Oversight and Government Reform, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
                        the committee concerned

                             March 6, 2018

                     Additional sponsor: Mr. Walden

                             March 6, 2018

  Reported from the Committee on Energy and Commerce with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

                             March 6, 2018

 The Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Oversight and 
 Government Reform discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
    [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on 
                           February 8, 2018]


_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reauthorize appropriations 
   for the Federal Communications Commission, to provide for certain 
     procedural changes to the rules of the Commission to maximize 
 opportunities for public participation and efficient decisionmaking, 
                        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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Repack Airwaves 
Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services Act of 2018'' or 
the ``RAY BAUM'S Act of 2018''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Commission defined.

                      TITLE I--FCC REAUTHORIZATION

Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 102. Application and regulatory fees.
Sec. 103. Effective date.

                      TITLE II--FCC PROCESS REFORM

Sec. 201. FCC process reform.
Sec. 202. Categorization of TCPA inquiries and complaints in quarterly 
                            report.
Sec. 203. Effect on other laws.
Sec. 204. Application of Antideficiency Act to Universal Service 
                            Program.
Sec. 205. Report on improving small business participation in FCC 
                            proceedings.
Sec. 206. Timely availability of items adopted by vote of the 
                            Commission.

          TITLE III--SECURING ACCESS TO NETWORKS IN DISASTERS

Sec. 301. Study on network resiliency.
Sec. 302. Access to essential service providers during federally 
                            declared emergencies.
Sec. 303. Definitions.

                  TITLE IV--FCC CONSOLIDATED REPORTING

Sec. 401. Communications marketplace report.
Sec. 402. Consolidation of redundant reports; conforming amendments.
Sec. 403. Effect on authority.
Sec. 404. Other reports.

                     TITLE V--ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Independent Inspector General for FCC.
Sec. 502. Authority of Chief Information Officer.
Sec. 503. Spoofing prevention.
Sec. 504. Report on promoting broadband Internet access service for 
                            veterans.
Sec. 505. Methodology for collection of mobile service coverage data.
Sec. 506. Accuracy of dispatchable location for 9-1-1 calls.
Sec. 507. NTIA study on interagency process following cybersecurity 
                            incidents.
Sec. 508. Tribal digital access.

                      TITLE VI--VIEWER PROTECTION

Sec. 601. Reserve source for payment of TV broadcaster relocation 
                            costs.
Sec. 602. Payment of relocation costs of television translator stations 
                            and low power television stations.
Sec. 603. Payment of relocation costs of FM broadcast stations.
Sec. 604. Consumer education payment.
Sec. 605. Implementation and enforcement.
Sec. 606. Rule of construction.

SEC. 2. COMMISSION DEFINED.

    In this Act, the term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
Communications Commission.

                      TITLE I--FCC REAUTHORIZATION

SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 6 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 156) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Commission to carry out the functions of the Commission 
$322,035,000 for each of the fiscal years 2019 and 2020.
    ``(b) Offsetting Collections.--
            ``(1) In general.--The sum appropriated in any fiscal year 
        to carry out the activities described in subsection (a), to the 
        extent and in the amounts provided for in advance in 
        Appropriations Acts, shall be derived from fees authorized by 
        section 9.
            ``(2) Deposit of collections.--Amounts received from fees 
        authorized by section 9 shall be deposited as an offsetting 
        collection in, and credited to, the account through which funds 
        are made available to carry out the activities described in 
        subsection (a).
            ``(3) Deposit of excess collections.--Any fees collected in 
        excess of the total amount of fees provided for in 
        Appropriations Acts for a fiscal year shall be deposited in the 
        general fund of the Treasury of the United States for the sole 
        purpose of deficit reduction.''.
    (b) Deposits of Bidders to Be Deposited in Treasury.--Section 
309(j)(8)(C) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(8)(C)) 
is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``an interest 
        bearing account'' and all that follows and inserting ``the 
        Treasury.'';
            (2) in clause (i)--
                    (A) by striking ``paid to the Treasury'' and 
                inserting ``deposited in the general fund of the 
                Treasury (where such deposits shall be used for the 
                sole purpose of deficit reduction)''; and
                    (B) by striking the semicolon and inserting ``; 
                and'';
            (3) in clause (ii), by striking ``; and'' and inserting ``, 
        and payments representing the return of such deposits shall not 
        be subject to administrative offset under section 3716(c) of 
        title 31, United States Code.''; and
            (4) by striking clause (iii).
    (c) Elimination of Duplicative Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--Section 710 of the Telecommunications Act 
        of 1996 (Public Law 104-104) is repealed.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--The table of contents in section 
        2 of such Act is amended by striking the item relating to 
        section 710.
    (d) Transfer of Funds.--On the effective date described in section 
103, any amounts in the account providing appropriations to carry out 
the functions of the Commission that were collected in excess of the 
amounts provided for in Appropriations Acts in any fiscal year prior to 
such date shall be transferred to the general fund of the Treasury of 
the United States for the sole purpose of deficit reduction.

SEC. 102. APPLICATION AND REGULATORY FEES.

    (a) In General.--Section 9 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 159) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 9. APPLICATION AND REGULATORY FEES.

    ``(a) General Authority.--The Commission shall assess and collect 
application fees and regulatory fees to recover the costs of carrying 
out the activities described in section 6(a) only to the extent and in 
the amounts provided for in advance in Appropriations Acts.
    ``(b) Application Fees.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall assess and collect 
        application fees at such rates as the Commission shall 
        establish in a schedule of application fees to recover the 
        costs of the Commission to process applications.
            ``(2) Adjustment of schedule.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In every even-numbered year, the 
                Commission shall review the schedule of application 
                fees established under this subsection and, except as 
                provided in subparagraph (B), set a new amount for each 
                fee in the schedule that is equal to the amount of the 
                fee on the date when the fee was established or the 
                date when the fee was last amended under paragraph (3), 
                whichever is later--
                            ``(i) increased or decreased by the 
                        percentage change in the Consumer Price Index 
                        during the period beginning on such date and 
                        ending on the date of the review; and
                            ``(ii) rounded to the nearest $5 increment.
                    ``(B) Threshold for adjustment.--The Commission may 
                not adjust a fee under subparagraph (A) if--
                            ``(i) in the case of a fee the current 
                        amount of which is less than $200, the 
                        adjustment would result in a change in the 
                        current amount of less than $10; or
                            ``(ii) in the case of a fee the current 
                        amount of which is $200 or more, the adjustment 
                        would result in a change in the current amount 
                        of less than 5 percent.
                    ``(C) Current amount defined.--In subparagraph (B), 
                the term `current amount' means, with respect to a fee, 
                the amount of the fee on the date when the fee was 
                established, the date when the fee was last adjusted 
                under subparagraph (A), or the date when the fee was 
                last amended under paragraph (3), whichever is latest.
            ``(3) Amendments.--In addition to the adjustments required 
        by paragraph (2), the Commission shall by rule amend the 
        schedule of application fees established under this subsection 
        if the Commission determines that the schedule requires 
        amendment so that such fees reflect increases or decreases in 
        the costs of processing applications at the Commission and the 
        consolidation or addition of new categories of applications.
    ``(c) Regulatory Fees.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall assess and collect 
        regulatory fees at such rates as the Commission shall establish 
        in a schedule of regulatory fees that will result in the 
        collection, in each fiscal year, of an amount that can 
        reasonably be expected to equal the difference between--
                    ``(A) the amounts described in subsection (a) with 
                respect to such fiscal year; and
                    ``(B) the amount of application fees reasonably 
                expected to be collected in such fiscal year.
            ``(2) Adjustment of schedule.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For each fiscal year, the 
                Commission shall by rule adjust the schedule of 
                regulatory fees established under this subsection to--
                            ``(i) reflect unexpected increases or 
                        decreases in the number of units subject to the 
                        payment of such fees; and
                            ``(ii) result in the collection of the 
                        amount required by paragraph (1).
                    ``(B) Rounding.--In making adjustments under this 
                paragraph, the Commission may round fees to the nearest 
                $5 increment.
            ``(3) Amendments.--In addition to the adjustments required 
        by paragraph (2), the Commission shall by rule amend the 
        schedule of regulatory fees established under this subsection 
        if the Commission determines that the schedule requires 
        amendment so that such fees reflect the full-time equivalent 
        number of employees within the bureaus and offices of the 
        Commission, adjusted to take into account factors that are 
        reasonably related to the benefits provided to the payor of the 
        fee by the Commission's activities. In making an amendment 
        under this paragraph, the Commission may not change the total 
        amount of regulatory fees required by paragraph (1) to be 
        collected in a fiscal year.
    ``(d) Judicial Review Prohibited.--An adjustment or amendment to a 
schedule of fees under subsection (b) or (c) is not subject to judicial 
review.
    ``(e) Notice to Congress.--The Commission shall transmit to 
Congress notification--
            ``(1) of any adjustment under subsection (b)(2) or (c)(2) 
        immediately upon the adoption of such adjustment; and
            ``(2) of any amendment under subsection (b)(3) or (c)(3) 
        not later than 90 days before the effective date of such 
        amendment.
    ``(f) Enforcement.--
            ``(1) Penalties for late payment.--The Commission shall by 
        rule prescribe a penalty for late payment of fees under this 
        section. Such penalty shall be 25 percent of the amount of the 
        fee that was not paid in a timely manner.
            ``(2) Interest on unpaid fees and penalties.--The 
        Commission shall charge interest, at a rate determined under 
        section 3717 of title 31, United States Code, on a fee or 
        penalty under this section that is not paid in a timely manner. 
        Such section 3717 shall not otherwise apply with respect to a 
        fee or penalty under this section.
            ``(3) Dismissal of applications or filings.--The Commission 
        may dismiss any application or other filing for failure to pay 
        in a timely manner any fee, interest, or penalty under this 
        section.
            ``(4) Revocations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In addition to or in lieu of the 
                penalties and dismissals authorized by paragraphs (1) 
                and (3), the Commission may revoke any instrument of 
                authorization held by any licensee that has not paid in 
                a timely manner a regulatory fee assessed under this 
                section or any related interest or penalty.
                    ``(B) Notice.--Revocation action may be taken by 
                the Commission under this paragraph after notice of the 
                Commission's intent to take such action is sent to the 
                licensee by registered mail, return receipt requested, 
                at the licensee's last known address. The notice shall 
                provide the licensee at least 30 days to either pay the 
                fee, interest, and any penalty or show cause why the 
                fee, interest, or penalty does not apply to the 
                licensee or should otherwise be waived or payment 
                deferred.
                    ``(C) Hearing.--
                            ``(i) Generally not required.--A hearing is 
                        not required under this paragraph unless the 
                        licensee's response presents a substantial and 
                        material question of fact.
                            ``(ii) Evidence and burdens.--In any case 
                        where a hearing is conducted under this 
                        paragraph, the hearing shall be based on 
                        written evidence only, and the burden of 
                        proceeding with the introduction of evidence 
                        and the burden of proof shall be on the 
                        licensee.
                            ``(iii) Costs.--Unless the licensee 
                        substantially prevails in the hearing, the 
                        Commission may assess the licensee for the 
                        costs of such hearing.
                    ``(D) Opportunity to pay prior to revocation.--Any 
                Commission order adopted under this paragraph shall 
                determine the amount due, if any, and provide the 
                licensee with at least 30 days to pay that amount or 
                have its authorization revoked.
                    ``(E) Finality.--No order of revocation under this 
                paragraph shall become final until the licensee has 
                exhausted its right to judicial review of such order 
                under section 402(b)(5).
    ``(g) Waiver, Reduction, and Deferment.--The Commission may waive, 
reduce, or defer payment of a fee, interest charge, or penalty in any 
specific instance for good cause shown, if such action would promote 
the public interest.
    ``(h) Payment Rules.--The Commission shall by rule permit payment--
            ``(1) in the case of fees in large amounts, by 
        installments; and
            ``(2) in the case of fees in small amounts, in advance for 
        a number of years not to exceed the term of the license held by 
        the payor.
    ``(i) Exceptions.--
            ``(1) Parties to which fees are not applicable.--
                    ``(A) Application fees.--The application fees 
                established under this section shall not be applicable 
                to--
                            ``(i) a governmental entity;
                            ``(ii) a nonprofit entity licensed in the 
                        Local Government, Police, Fire, Highway 
                        Maintenance, Forestry-Conservation, Public 
                        Safety, or Special Emergency Radio service; or
                            ``(iii) a noncommercial radio station or 
                        noncommercial television station.
                    ``(B) Regulatory fees.--The regulatory fees 
                established under this section shall not be applicable 
                to--
                            ``(i) a governmental entity or nonprofit 
                        entity;
                            ``(ii) an amateur radio operator licensee 
                        under part 97 of the Commission's rules (47 
                        C.F.R. part 97); or
                            ``(iii) a noncommercial radio station or 
                        noncommercial television station.
            ``(2) Cost of collection.--
                    ``(A) Application fees.--If, in the judgment of the 
                Commission, the cost of collecting an application fee 
                established under this section would exceed the amount 
                collected, the Commission may by rule eliminate such 
                fee.
                    ``(B) Regulatory fees.--If, in the judgment of the 
                Commission, the cost of collecting a regulatory fee 
                established under this section from a party would 
                exceed the amount collected from such party, the 
                Commission may exempt such party from paying such fee.
    ``(j) Accounting System.--The Commission shall develop accounting 
systems necessary to make the amendments authorized by subsections 
(b)(3) and (c)(3).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--The Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 151 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by repealing section 8; and
            (2) in section 309(j)(6)(H), by striking ``charges imposed 
        pursuant to section 8 of this Act'' and inserting ``application 
        fees assessed under section 9''.
    (c) Transitional Rules.--
            (1) Application fees.--An application fee established under 
        section 8 of the Communications Act of 1934, as such section is 
        in effect on the day before the effective date described in 
        section 103 of this Act, shall remain in effect under 
        subsection (b) of section 9 of the Communications Act of 1934, 
        as amended by subsection (a) of this section, until such time 
        as the Commission adjusts or amends such fee under subsection 
        (b)(2) or (b)(3) of such section 9, as so amended.
            (2) Regulatory fees.--A regulatory fee established under 
        section 9 of the Communications Act of 1934, as such section is 
        in effect on the day before the effective date described in 
        section 103 of this Act, shall remain in effect under 
        subsection (c) of section 9 of the Communications Act of 1934, 
        as amended by subsection (a) of this section, until such time 
        as the Commission adjusts or amends such fee under subsection 
        (c)(2) or (c)(3) of such section 9, as so amended.
    (d) Rulemaking to Amend Schedule of Regulatory Fees.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the effective 
        date described in section 103, the Commission shall complete a 
        rulemaking proceeding under subsection (c)(3) of section 9 of 
        the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by subsection (a) of 
        this section.
            (2) Report to congress.--If the Commission has not 
        completed the rulemaking proceeding required by paragraph (1) 
        by the date that is 6 months after the effective date described 
        in section 103, the Commission shall submit to Congress a 
        report on the progress of such rulemaking proceeding.

SEC. 103. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect 
on October 1, 2018.

                      TITLE II--FCC PROCESS REFORM

SEC. 201. FCC PROCESS REFORM.

    (a) In General.--Title I of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 151 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 13. TRANSPARENCY AND EFFICIENCY.

    ``(a) Initial Rulemaking and Inquiry.--
            ``(1) Rulemaking.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this section, the Commission shall complete a 
        rulemaking proceeding and adopt procedural changes to its rules 
        to maximize opportunities for public participation and 
        efficient decisionmaking.
            ``(2) Requirements for rulemaking.--The rules adopted under 
        paragraph (1) shall--
                    ``(A) set minimum comment periods for comment and 
                reply comment, subject to a determination by the 
                Commission that good cause exists for departing from 
                such minimum comment periods, for--
                            ``(i) significant regulatory actions, as 
                        defined in Executive Order No. 12866; and
                            ``(ii) all other rulemaking proceedings;
                    ``(B) establish policies concerning the submission 
                of extensive new comments, data, or reports towards the 
                end of the comment period in the proceedings described 
                in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A);
                    ``(C) establish policies regarding treatment of 
                comments, ex parte communications, and data or reports 
                (including statistical reports and reports to Congress) 
                submitted after the comment period in the proceedings 
                described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A) 
                to ensure that the public has adequate notice of and 
                opportunity to respond to such submissions before the 
                Commission relies on such submissions in any order, 
                decision, report, or action;
                    ``(D) establish procedures for, not later than 14 
                days after the end of each quarter of a calendar year 
                (or more frequently, as the Commission considers 
                appropriate), publishing on the Internet website of the 
                Commission and submitting to Congress a report that 
                contains--
                            ``(i) the status of open rulemaking 
                        proceedings and proposed orders, decisions, 
                        reports, or actions on circulation for review 
                        by the Commissioners, including which 
                        Commissioners have not cast a vote on an order, 
                        decision, report, or action that has been on 
                        circulation for more than 60 days;
                            ``(ii) for the petitions, applications, 
                        complaints, and other requests for action by 
                        the Commission that were pending at the 
                        Commission on the last day of such quarter (or 
                        more frequent period, as the case may be)--
                                    ``(I) the number of such requests, 
                                broken down by the bureau primarily 
                                responsible for action and, for each 
                                bureau, the type of request (such as a 
                                petition, application, or complaint); 
                                and
                                    ``(II) information regarding the 
                                amount of time for which such requests 
                                have been pending, broken down as 
                                described in subclause (I); and
                            ``(iii) a list of the congressional 
                        investigations of the Commission that were 
                        pending on the last day of such quarter (or 
                        more frequent period, as the case may be) and 
                        the cost of such investigations, individually 
                        and in the aggregate;
                    ``(E) establish deadlines (relative to the date of 
                filing) for--
                            ``(i) in the case of a petition for a 
                        declaratory ruling under section 1.2 of title 
                        47, Code of Federal Regulations, issuing a 
                        public notice of such petition;
                            ``(ii) in the case of a petition for 
                        rulemaking under section 1.401 of such title, 
                        issuing a public notice of such petition; and
                            ``(iii) in the case of a petition for 
                        reconsideration under section 1.106 or 1.429 of 
                        such title or an application for review under 
                        section 1.115 of such title, issuing a public 
                        notice of a decision on the petition or 
                        application by the Commission or under 
                        delegated authority (as the case may be);
                    ``(F) establish guidelines (relative to the date of 
                filing) for the disposition of petitions filed under 
                section 1.2 of such title;
                    ``(G) establish procedures for the inclusion of the 
                specific language of the proposed rule or the proposed 
                amendment of an existing rule in a notice of proposed 
                rulemaking; and
                    ``(H) require notices of proposed rulemaking and 
                orders adopting a rule or amending an existing rule 
                that--
                            ``(i) create (or propose to create) a 
                        program activity to contain performance 
                        measures for evaluating the effectiveness of 
                        the program activity; and
                            ``(ii) substantially change (or propose to 
                        substantially change) a program activity to 
                        contain--
                                    ``(I) performance measures for 
                                evaluating the effectiveness of the 
                                program activity as changed (or 
                                proposed to be changed); or
                                    ``(II) a finding that existing 
                                performance measures will effectively 
                                evaluate the program activity as 
                                changed (or proposed to be changed).
            ``(3) Inquiry.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this section, the Commission shall complete an 
        inquiry to seek public comment on whether and how the 
        Commission should--
                    ``(A) establish procedures for allowing a 
                bipartisan majority of Commissioners to place an order, 
                decision, report, or action on the agenda of an open 
                meeting;
                    ``(B) establish procedures for informing all 
                Commissioners of a reasonable number of options 
                available to the Commission for resolving a petition, 
                complaint, application, rulemaking, or other 
                proceeding;
                    ``(C) establish procedures for ensuring that all 
                Commissioners have adequate time, prior to being 
                required to decide a petition, complaint, application, 
                rulemaking, or other proceeding (including at a meeting 
                held pursuant to section 5(d)), to review the proposed 
                Commission decision document, including the specific 
                language of any proposed rule or any proposed amendment 
                of an existing rule;
                    ``(D) establish procedures for publishing the text 
                of agenda items to be voted on at an open meeting in 
                advance of such meeting so that the public has the 
                opportunity to read the text before a vote is taken;
                    ``(E) establish deadlines (relative to the date of 
                filing) for disposition of applications for a license 
                under section 1.913 of title 47, Code of Federal 
                Regulations;
                    ``(F) assign resources needed in order to meet the 
                deadlines described in subparagraph (E), including 
                whether the Commission's ability to meet such deadlines 
                would be enhanced by assessing a fee from applicants 
                for such a license; and
                    ``(G) except as otherwise provided in section 4(o), 
                publish each order, decision, report, or action not 
                later than 30 days after the date of the adoption of 
                such order, decision, report, or action.
            ``(4) Data for performance measures.--The Commission shall 
        develop a performance measure or proposed performance measure 
        required by this subsection to rely, where possible, on data 
        already collected by the Commission.
            ``(5) GAO audit.--Not less frequently than every 6 months, 
        the Comptroller General of the United States shall audit the 
        cost estimates provided by the Commission under paragraph 
        (2)(D)(iii) during the preceding 6-month period.
    ``(b) Periodic Review.--On the date that is 5 years after the 
completion of the rulemaking proceeding under subsection (a)(1), and 
every 5 years thereafter, the Commission shall initiate a new 
rulemaking proceeding to continue to consider such procedural changes 
to its rules as may be in the public interest to maximize opportunities 
for public participation and efficient decisionmaking.
    ``(c) Nonpublic Collaborative Discussions.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 552b of title 5, 
        United States Code, a bipartisan majority of Commissioners may 
        hold a meeting that is closed to the public to discuss official 
        business if--
                    ``(A) a vote or any other agency action is not 
                taken at such meeting;
                    ``(B) each person present at such meeting is a 
                Commissioner, an employee of the Commission, a member 
                of a joint board or conference established under 
                section 410, or a person on the staff of such a joint 
                board or conference or of a member of such a joint 
                board or conference; and
                    ``(C) an attorney from the Office of General 
                Counsel of the Commission is present at such meeting.
            ``(2) Disclosure of nonpublic collaborative discussions.--
        Not later than 2 business days after the conclusion of a 
        meeting held under paragraph (1), the Commission shall publish 
        a disclosure of such meeting, including--
                    ``(A) a list of the persons who attended such 
                meeting; and
                    ``(B) a summary of the matters discussed at such 
                meeting, except for such matters as the Commission 
                determines may be withheld under section 552b(c) of 
                title 5, United States Code.
            ``(3) Preservation of open meetings requirements for agency 
        action.--Nothing in this subsection shall limit the 
        applicability of section 552b of title 5, United States Code, 
        with respect to a meeting of Commissioners other than that 
        described in paragraph (1).
    ``(d) Access to Certain Information on Commission's Website.--The 
Commission shall provide direct access from the homepage of its website 
to--
            ``(1) detailed information regarding--
                    ``(A) the budget of the Commission for the current 
                fiscal year;
                    ``(B) the appropriations for the Commission for 
                such fiscal year; and
                    ``(C) the total number of full-time equivalent 
                employees of the Commission; and
            ``(2) the performance plan most recently made available by 
        the Commission under section 1115(b) of title 31, United States 
        Code.
    ``(e) Internet Publication of Certain FCC Policies and 
Procedures.--The chairman of the Commission shall--
            ``(1) publish on the Internet website of the Commission any 
        policies or procedures of the Commission that--
                    ``(A) are established by the chairman; and
                    ``(B) relate to the functioning of the Commission 
                or the handling of the agenda of the Commission; and
            ``(2) update such publication not later than 48 hours after 
        the chairman makes changes to any such policies or procedures.
    ``(f) Federal Register Publication.--
            ``(1) In general.--In the case of any document adopted by 
        the Commission that the Commission is required, under any 
        provision of law, to publish in the Federal Register, the 
        Commission shall, not later than the date described in 
        paragraph (2), complete all Commission actions necessary for 
        such document to be so published.
            ``(2) Date described.--The date described in this paragraph 
        is the earlier of--
                    ``(A) the day that is 45 days after the date of the 
                release of the document; or
                    ``(B) the day by which such actions must be 
                completed to comply with any deadline under any other 
                provision of law.
            ``(3) No effect on deadlines for publication in other 
        form.--In the case of a deadline that does not specify that the 
        form of publication is publication in the Federal Register, the 
        Commission may comply with such deadline by publishing the 
        document in another form. Such other form of publication does 
        not relieve the Commission of any Federal Register publication 
        requirement applicable to such document, including the 
        requirement of paragraph (1).
    ``(g) Consumer Complaint Database.--
            ``(1) In general.--In evaluating and processing consumer 
        complaints, the Commission shall present information about such 
        complaints in a publicly available, searchable database on its 
        website that--
                    ``(A) facilitates easy use by consumers; and
                    ``(B) to the extent practicable, is sortable and 
                accessible by--
                            ``(i) the date of the filing of the 
                        complaint;
                            ``(ii) the topic of the complaint;
                            ``(iii) the party complained of; and
                            ``(iv) other elements that the Commission 
                        considers in the public interest.
            ``(2) Duplicative complaints.--In the case of multiple 
        complaints arising from the same alleged misconduct, the 
        Commission shall be required to include only information 
        concerning one such complaint in the database described in 
        paragraph (1) and shall take any other steps the Commission 
        finds prudent to avoid publishing inaccurate or misleading 
        data.
    ``(h) Form of Publication.--
            ``(1) In general.--In complying with a requirement of this 
        section to publish a document, the Commission shall publish 
        such document on its website, in addition to publishing such 
        document in any other form that the Commission is required to 
        use or is permitted to and chooses to use.
            ``(2) Exception.--The Commission shall by rule establish 
        procedures for redacting documents required to be published by 
        this section so that the published versions of such documents 
        do not contain--
                    ``(A) information the publication of which would be 
                detrimental to national security, homeland security, 
                law enforcement, or public safety; or
                    ``(B) information that is proprietary or 
                confidential.
    ``(i) Transparency Relating to Performance in Meeting FOIA 
Requirements.--The Commission shall take additional steps to inform the 
public about its performance and efficiency in meeting the disclosure 
and other requirements of section 552 of title 5, United States Code 
(commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), including by 
doing the following:
            ``(1) Publishing on the Commission's website the 
        Commission's logs for tracking, responding to, and managing 
        requests submitted under such section, including the 
        Commission's fee estimates, fee categories, and fee request 
        determinations.
            ``(2) Releasing to the public all decisions made by the 
        Commission (including decisions made by the Commission's 
        Bureaus and Offices) granting or denying requests filed under 
        such section, including any such decisions pertaining to the 
        estimate and application of fees assessed under such section.
            ``(3) Publishing on the Commission's website electronic 
        copies of documents released under such section.
            ``(4) Presenting information about the Commission's 
        handling of requests under such section in the Commission's 
        annual budget estimates submitted to Congress and the 
        Commission's annual performance and financial reports. Such 
        information shall include the number of requests under such 
        section the Commission received in the most recent fiscal year, 
        the number of such requests granted and denied, a comparison of 
        the Commission's processing of such requests over at least the 
        previous 3 fiscal years, and a comparison of the Commission's 
        results with the most recent average for the United States 
        Government as published on www.foia.gov.
    ``(j) Prompt Release of Statistical Reports and Reports to 
Congress.--Not later than January 15th of each year, the Commission 
shall identify, catalog, and publish an anticipated release schedule 
for all statistical reports and reports to Congress that are regularly 
or intermittently released by the Commission and will be released 
during such year.
    ``(k) Annual Scorecard Reports.--
            ``(1) In general.--For the 1-year period beginning on 
        January 1st of each year, the Commission shall prepare a report 
        on the performance of the Commission in conducting its 
        proceedings and meeting the deadlines established under 
        subsection (a)(2)(E) and the guidelines established under 
        subsection (a)(2)(F).
            ``(2) Contents.--Each report required by paragraph (1) 
        shall contain detailed statistics on such performance, 
        including, with respect to each Bureau of the Commission--
                    ``(A) with respect to each type of filing specified 
                in subsection (a)(2)(E) or (a)(2)(F)--
                            ``(i) the number of filings that were 
                        pending on the last day of the period covered 
                        by such report;
                            ``(ii) the number of filings described in 
                        clause (i) for which each applicable deadline 
                        or guideline established under such subsection 
                        was not met and the average length of time such 
                        filings have been pending; and
                            ``(iii) for filings that were resolved 
                        during such period, the average time between 
                        initiation and resolution and the percentage 
                        for which each applicable deadline or guideline 
                        established under such subsection was met;
                    ``(B) with respect to proceedings before an 
                administrative law judge--
                            ``(i) the number of such proceedings 
                        completed during such period; and
                            ``(ii) the number of such proceedings 
                        pending on the last day of such period; and
                    ``(C) the number of independent studies or analyses 
                published by the Commission during such period.
            ``(3) Publication and submission.--The Commission shall 
        publish and submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of 
        the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate each report required 
        by paragraph (1) not later than the date that is 30 days after 
        the last day of the period covered by such report.
    ``(l) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Amendment.--The term `amendment' includes, when used 
        with respect to an existing rule, the deletion of such rule.
            ``(2) Bipartisan majority.--The term `bipartisan majority' 
        means, when used with respect to a group of Commissioners, that 
        such group--
                    ``(A) is a group of three or more Commissioners; 
                and
                    ``(B) includes, for each political party of which 
                any Commissioner is a member, at least one Commissioner 
                who is a member of such political party, and, if any 
                Commissioner has no political party affiliation, at 
                least one unaffiliated Commissioner.
            ``(3) Performance measure.--The term `performance measure' 
        means an objective and quantifiable outcome measure or output 
        measure (as such terms are defined in section 1115 of title 31, 
        United States Code).
            ``(4) Program activity.--The term `program activity' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 1115 of title 31, United 
        States Code, except that such term also includes any annual 
        collection or distribution or related series of collections or 
        distributions by the Commission of an amount that is greater 
        than or equal to $100,000,000.
            ``(5) Other definitions.--The terms `agency action', `ex 
        parte communication', and `rule' have the meanings given such 
        terms in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.''.
    (b) Effective Dates and Implementing Rules.--
            (1) Effective dates.--
                    (A) Nonpublic collaborative discussions.--
                Subsection (c) of section 13 of the Communications Act 
                of 1934, as added by subsection (a), shall apply 
                beginning on the first date on which all of the 
                procedural changes to the rules of the Commission 
                required by subsection (a)(1) of such section have 
                taken effect.
                    (B) Report release schedules.--Subsection (j) of 
                such section 13 shall apply with respect to 2019 and 
                any year thereafter.
                    (C) Annual scorecard reports.--Subsection (k) of 
                such section 13 shall apply with respect to 2018 and 
                any year thereafter.
                    (D) Internet publication of certain fcc policies 
                and procedures.--Subsection (e) of such section 13 
                shall apply beginning on the date that is 30 days after 
                the date of the enactment of this Act.
            (2) Rules.--Except as otherwise provided in such section 
        13, the Commission shall promulgate any rules necessary to 
        carry out such section not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 202. CATEGORIZATION OF TCPA INQUIRIES AND COMPLAINTS IN QUARTERLY 
              REPORT.

    In compiling its quarterly report with respect to informal consumer 
inquiries and complaints, the Commission may not categorize an inquiry 
or complaint with respect to section 227 of the Communications Act of 
1934 (47 U.S.C. 227) as being a wireline inquiry or complaint or a 
wireless inquiry or complaint unless the party whose conduct is the 
subject of the inquiry or complaint is a wireline carrier or a wireless 
carrier, respectively.

SEC. 203. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.

    Nothing in this title or the amendments made by this title shall 
relieve the Commission from any obligations under title 5, United 
States Code, except where otherwise expressly provided.

SEC. 204. APPLICATION OF ANTIDEFICIENCY ACT TO UNIVERSAL SERVICE 
              PROGRAM.

    Section 302 of Public Law 108-494 (118 Stat. 3998) is amended by 
striking ``December 31, 2018'' each place it appears and inserting 
``December 31, 2021''.

SEC. 205. REPORT ON IMPROVING SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FCC 
              PROCEEDINGS.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Commission, in consultation with the Administrator of the Small 
Business Administration, shall submit to Congress a report on--
            (1) actions that the Commission will take to improve the 
        participation of small businesses in the proceedings of the 
        Commission; and
            (2) recommendations for any legislation that the Commission 
        considers appropriate to improve such participation.

SEC. 206. TIMELY AVAILABILITY OF ITEMS ADOPTED BY VOTE OF THE 
              COMMISSION.

    (a) Amendment.--Section 4 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 154) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(o) In the case of any item that is adopted by vote of the 
Commission, the Commission shall publish on the Internet website of the 
Commission the text of such item not later than 7 days after the 
Secretary of the Commission has received dissenting statements from all 
Commissioners wishing to submit such a statement with respect to such 
item.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply 
with respect to an item that is adopted after the date that is 30 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.

          TITLE III--SECURING ACCESS TO NETWORKS IN DISASTERS

SEC. 301. STUDY ON NETWORK RESILIENCY.

    Not later than 36 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Commission shall submit to Congress, and make publically available 
on the Commission's website, a study on the public safety benefits and 
technical feasibility and cost of--
            (1) making telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi 
        access points, and other communications technologies operating 
        on unlicensed spectrum, available to the general public for 
        access to 9-1-1 services, without requiring any login 
        credentials, during times of emergency when mobile service is 
        unavailable;
            (2) the provision by non-telecommunications service 
        provider-owned WiFi access points of public access to 9-1-1 
        services during times of emergency when mobile service is 
        unavailable; and
            (3) other alternative means of providing the public with 
        access to 9-1-1 services during times of emergency when mobile 
        service is unavailable.

SEC. 302. ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS DURING FEDERALLY 
              DECLARED EMERGENCIES.

    Section 427(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189e(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                ``telecommunications service'' and inserting ``wireline 
                or mobile telephone service, Internet access service, 
                radio or television broadcasting, cable service, or 
                direct broadcast satellite service'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the semicolon 
                and inserting ``; or'';
                    (C) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (E) 
                as clauses (i) through (v), respectively; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(B) is a tower owner or operator;''; and
            (2) by striking ``(1) provides'' and inserting ``(1)(A) 
        provides''.

SEC. 303. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this title--
            (1) the term ``mobile service'' means commercial mobile 
        service (as defined in section 332 of the Communications Act of 
        1934 (47 U.S.C. 332)) or commercial mobile data service (as 
        defined in section 6001 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job 
        Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1401));
            (2) the term ``WiFi access point'' means wireless Internet 
        access using the standard designated as 802.11 or any variant 
        thereof; and
            (3) the term ``times of emergency'' means either an 
        emergency as defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford 
        Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122), 
        or an emergency as declared by the governor of a State or 
        territory of the United States.

                  TITLE IV--FCC CONSOLIDATED REPORTING

SEC. 401. COMMUNICATIONS MARKETPLACE REPORT.

    Title I of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by section 
201(a), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 14. COMMUNICATIONS MARKETPLACE REPORT.

    ``(a) In General.--In the last quarter of every even-numbered year, 
the Commission shall publish on its website and submit to the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report on the state of the communications marketplace.
    ``(b) Contents.--Each report required by subsection (a) shall--
            ``(1) assess the state of competition in the communications 
        marketplace, including competition to deliver voice, video, 
        audio, and data services among providers of telecommunications, 
        providers of commercial mobile service (as defined in section 
        332), multichannel video programming distributors (as defined 
        in section 602), broadcast stations, providers of satellite 
        communications, Internet service providers, and other providers 
        of communications services;
            ``(2) assess the state of deployment of communications 
        capabilities, including advanced telecommunications capability 
        (as defined in section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 
        1996 (47 U.S.C. 1302)), regardless of the technology used for 
        such deployment, including whether advanced telecommunications 
        capability is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable 
        and timely fashion;
            ``(3) assess whether laws, regulations, or regulatory 
        practices (whether those of the Federal Government, States, 
        political subdivisions of States, Indian tribes or tribal 
        organizations (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the 
        Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
        U.S.C. 5304)), or foreign governments) pose a barrier to 
        competitive entry into the communications marketplace or to the 
        competitive expansion of existing providers of communications 
        services;
            ``(4) describe the agenda of the Commission for the next 2-
        year period for addressing the challenges and opportunities in 
        the communications marketplace that were identified through the 
        assessments under paragraphs (1) through (3); and
            ``(5) describe the actions that the Commission has taken in 
        pursuit of the agenda described pursuant to paragraph (4) in 
        the previous report submitted under this section.
    ``(c) Extension.--If the President designates a Commissioner as 
Chairman of the Commission during the last quarter of an even-numbered 
year, the portion of the report required by subsection (b)(4) may be 
published on the website of the Commission and submitted to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate as 
an addendum during the first quarter of the following odd-numbered 
year.
    ``(d) Special Requirements.--
            ``(1) Assessing competition.--In assessing the state of 
        competition under subsection (b)(1), the Commission shall 
        consider all forms of competition, including the effect of 
        intermodal competition, facilities-based competition, and 
        competition from new and emergent communications services, 
        including the provision of content and communications using the 
        Internet.
            ``(2) Assessing deployment.--In assessing the state of 
        deployment under subsection (b)(2), the Commission shall 
        compile a list of geographical areas that are not served by any 
        provider of advanced telecommunications capability.
            ``(3) International comparisons and demographic 
        information.--The Commission may use readily available data to 
        draw appropriate comparisons between the United States 
        communications marketplace and the international communications 
        marketplace and to correlate its assessments with demographic 
        information.
            ``(4) Considering small businesses.--In assessing the state 
        of competition under subsection (b)(1) and regulatory barriers 
        under subsection (b)(3), the Commission shall consider market 
        entry barriers for entrepreneurs and other small businesses in 
        the communications marketplace in accordance with the national 
        policy under section 257(b).
            ``(5) Considering cable rates.--In assessing the state of 
        competition under subsection (b)(1), the Commission shall 
        include in each report required by subsection (a) the aggregate 
        average total amount paid by cable systems in compensation 
        under section 325 during the period covered by such report.''.

SEC. 402. CONSOLIDATION OF REDUNDANT REPORTS; CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) ORBIT Act Report.--Section 646 of the Communications Satellite 
Act of 1962 (47 U.S.C. 765e; 114 Stat. 57) is repealed.
    (b) Satellite Competition Report.--Section 4 of Public Law 109-34 
(47 U.S.C. 703) is repealed.
    (c) International Broadband Data Report.--Section 103 of the 
Broadband Data Improvement Act (47 U.S.C. 1303) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (b); and
            (2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as 
        subsections (b) through (d), respectively.
    (d) Status of Competition in the Market for the Delivery of Video 
Programming Report.--Section 628 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 548) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (g);
            (2) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (g); and
            (3) by transferring subsection (g) (as redesignated) so 
        that it appears after subsection (f).
    (e) Report on Cable Industry Prices.--
            (1) In general.--Section 623 of the Communications Act of 
        1934 (47 U.S.C. 543) is amended--
                    (A) by striking subsection (k); and
                    (B) by redesignating subsections (l) through (o) as 
                subsections (k) through (n), respectively.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 613(a)(3) of the 
        Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 533(a)(3)) is amended by 
        striking ``623(l)'' and inserting ``623(k)''.
    (f) Triennial Report Identifying and Eliminating Market Entry 
Barriers for Entrepreneurs and Other Small Businesses.--Section 257 of 
the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 257) is amended by striking 
subsection (c).
    (g) Section 706 Report.--Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act 
of 1996 (47 U.S.C. 1302) is amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
    ``(b) Determination.--If the Commission determines in its report 
under section 14 of the Communications Act of 1934, after considering 
the availability of advanced telecommunications capability to all 
Americans (including, in particular, elementary and secondary schools 
and classrooms), that advanced telecommunications capability is not 
being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion, the 
Commission shall take immediate action to accelerate deployment of such 
capability by removing barriers to infrastructure investment and by 
promoting competition in the telecommunications market.'';
            (2) by striking subsection (c);
            (3) in subsection (d), by striking ``this subsection'' and 
        inserting ``this section''; and
            (4) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c).
    (h) State of Competitive Market Conditions With Respect to 
Commercial Mobile Radio Services.--Section 332(c)(1)(C) of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332(c)(1)(C)) is amended by 
striking the first and second sentences.
    (i) Previously Eliminated Annual Report.--
            (1) In general.--Section 4 of the Communications Act of 
        1934 (47 U.S.C. 154), as amended by section 206(a), is further 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking subsection (k);
                    (B) by redesignating subsections (l) through (n) as 
                subsections (k) through (m), respectively; and
                    (C) by redesignating the first subsection (o) 
                (relating to use of radio and wire communications in 
                connection with safety of life and property) as 
                subsection (n).
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 309(j)(8)(B) of the 
        Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(8)(B)) is amended 
        by striking the last sentence.
    (j) Additional Outdated Reports.--The Communications Act of 1934 is 
further amended--
            (1) in section 4--
                    (A) in subsection (b)(2)(B)(ii), by striking ``and 
                shall furnish notice of such action'' and all that 
                follows through ``subject of the waiver''; and
                    (B) in subsection (g), by striking paragraph (2);
            (2) in section 215--
                    (A) by striking subsection (b); and
                    (B) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 
                (b);
            (3) in section 227(e), by striking paragraph (4);
            (4) in section 309(j)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (12); and
                    (B) in paragraph (15)(C), by striking clause (iv);
            (5) in section 331(b), by striking the last sentence;
            (6) in section 336(e), by amending paragraph (4) to read as 
        follows:
            ``(4) Report.--The Commission shall annually advise the 
        Congress on the amounts collected pursuant to the program 
        required by this subsection.'';
            (7) in section 339(c), by striking paragraph (1);
            (8) in section 396--
                    (A) by striking subsection (i);
                    (B) in subsection (k)--
                            (i) in paragraph (1), by striking 
                        subparagraph (F); and
                            (ii) in paragraph (3)(B)(iii), by striking 
                        subclause (V);
                    (C) in subsection (l)(1)(B), by striking ``shall be 
                included'' and all that follows through ``The audit 
                report''; and
                    (D) by striking subsection (m);
            (9) in section 398(b)(4), by striking the third sentence;
            (10) in section 624A(b)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``Report; regulations'' and 
                inserting ``Regulations'';
                    (B) by striking ``Within 1 year after'' and all 
                that follows through ``on means of assuring'' and 
                inserting ``The Commission shall issue such regulations 
                as are necessary to assure''; and
                    (C) by striking ``Within 180 days after'' and all 
                that follows through ``to assure such compatibility.''; 
                and
            (11) in section 713, by striking subsection (a).

SEC. 403. EFFECT ON AUTHORITY.

    Nothing in this title or the amendments made by this title shall be 
construed to expand or contract the authority of the Commission.

SEC. 404. OTHER REPORTS.

    Nothing in this title or the amendments made by this title shall be 
construed to prohibit or otherwise prevent the Commission from 
producing any additional reports otherwise within the authority of the 
Commission.

                     TITLE V--ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 501. INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR FCC.

    (a) Amendments.--The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) 
is amended--
            (1) in section 8G(a)(2), by striking ``the Federal 
        Communications Commission,''; and
            (2) in section 12--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, the Federal 
                Communications Commission,'' after ``the Chairman of 
                the Nuclear Regulatory Commission''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``the Federal 
                Communications Commission,'' after ``the Environmental 
                Protection Agency,''.
    (b) Transition Rule.--An individual serving as Inspector General of 
the Commission on the date of the enactment of this Act pursuant to an 
appointment made under section 8G of the Inspector General Act of 1978 
(5 U.S.C. App.)--
            (1) may continue so serving until the President makes an 
        appointment under section 3(a) of such Act with respect to the 
        Commission consistent with the amendments made by subsection 
        (a); and
            (2) shall, while serving under paragraph (1), remain 
        subject to the provisions of section 8G of such Act which, 
        immediately before the date of the enactment of this Act, 
        applied with respect to the Inspector General of the Commission 
        and suffer no reduction in pay.

SEC. 502. AUTHORITY OF CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER.

    (a) In General.--The Commission shall ensure that the Chief 
Information Officer of the Commission has a significant role in--
            (1) the decision-making process for annual and multi-year 
        planning, programming, budgeting, and execution decisions, 
        related reporting requirements, and reports related to 
        information technology;
            (2) the management, governance, and oversight processes 
        related to information technology; and
            (3) the hiring of personnel with information technology 
        responsibilities.
    (b) CIO Approval.--The Chief Information Officer of the Commission, 
in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer of the Commission and 
budget officials, shall specify and approve the allocation of amounts 
appropriated to the Commission for information technology, consistent 
with the provisions of appropriations Acts, budget guidelines, and 
recommendations from the Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget.

SEC. 503. SPOOFING PREVENTION.

    (a) Expanding and Clarifying Prohibition on Misleading or 
Inaccurate Caller Identification Information.--
            (1) Communications from outside the united states.--Section 
        227(e)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
        227(e)(1)) is amended by striking ``in connection with any 
        telecommunications service or IP-enabled voice service'' and 
        inserting ``or any person outside the United States if the 
        recipient is within the United States, in connection with any 
        voice service or text messaging service''.
            (2) Coverage of text messages and voice services.--Section 
        227(e)(8) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
        227(e)(8)) is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                ``telecommunications service or IP-enabled voice 
                service'' and inserting ``voice service or a text 
                message sent using a text messaging service'';
                    (B) in the first sentence of subparagraph (B), by 
                striking ``telecommunications service or IP-enabled 
                voice service'' and inserting ``voice service or a text 
                message sent using a text messaging service''; and
                    (C) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the 
                following:
                    ``(C) Text message.--The term `text message'--
                            ``(i) means a message consisting of text, 
                        images, sounds, or other information that is 
                        transmitted to or from a device that is 
                        identified as the receiving or transmitting 
                        device by means of a 10-digit telephone number 
                        or N11 service code;
                            ``(ii) includes a short message service 
                        (commonly referred to as `SMS') message and a 
                        multimedia message service (commonly referred 
                        to as `MMS') message; and
                            ``(iii) does not include--
                                    ``(I) a real-time, two-way voice or 
                                video communication; or
                                    ``(II) a message sent over an IP-
                                enabled messaging service to another 
                                user of the same messaging service, 
                                except a message described in clause 
                                (ii).
                    ``(D) Text messaging service.--The term `text 
                messaging service' means a service that enables the 
                transmission or receipt of a text message, including a 
                service provided as part of or in connection with a 
                voice service.
                    ``(E) Voice service.--The term `voice service'--
                            ``(i) means any service that is 
                        interconnected with the public switched 
                        telephone network and that furnishes voice 
                        communications to an end user using resources 
                        from the North American Numbering Plan or any 
                        successor to the North American Numbering Plan 
                        adopted by the Commission under section 
                        251(e)(1); and
                            ``(ii) includes transmissions from a 
                        telephone facsimile machine, computer, or other 
                        device to a telephone facsimile machine.''.
            (3) Technical amendment.--Section 227(e) of the 
        Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(e)) is amended in the 
        heading by inserting ``Misleading or'' before ``Inaccurate''.
            (4) Regulations.--
                    (A) In general.--Section 227(e)(3)(A) of the 
                Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(e)(3)(A)) is 
                amended by striking ``Not later than 6 months after the 
                date of enactment of the Truth in Caller ID Act of 
                2009, the Commission'' and inserting ``The 
                Commission''.
                    (B) Deadline.--The Commission shall prescribe 
                regulations to implement the amendments made by this 
                subsection not later than 18 months after the date of 
                enactment of this Act.
            (5) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
        shall take effect on the date that is 6 months after the date 
        on which the Commission prescribes regulations under paragraph 
        (4).
    (b) Consumer Education Materials on How To Avoid Scams That Rely 
Upon Misleading or Inaccurate Caller Identification Information.--
            (1) Development of materials.--Not later than 1 year after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission, in 
        coordination with the Federal Trade Commission, shall develop 
        consumer education materials that provide information about--
                    (A) ways for consumers to identify scams and other 
                fraudulent activity that rely upon the use of 
                misleading or inaccurate caller identification 
                information; and
                    (B) existing technologies, if any, that a consumer 
                can use to protect against such scams and other 
                fraudulent activity.
            (2) Contents.--In developing the consumer education 
        materials under paragraph (1), the Commission shall--
                    (A) identify existing technologies, if any, that 
                can help consumers guard themselves against scams and 
                other fraudulent activity that rely upon the use of 
                misleading or inaccurate caller identification 
                information, including--
                            (i) descriptions of how a consumer can use 
                        the technologies to protect against such scams 
                        and other fraudulent activity; and
                            (ii) details on how consumers can access 
                        and use the technologies; and
                    (B) provide other information that may help 
                consumers identify and avoid scams and other fraudulent 
                activity that rely upon the use of misleading or 
                inaccurate caller identification information.
            (3) Updates.--The Commission shall ensure that the consumer 
        education materials required under paragraph (1) are updated on 
        a regular basis.
            (4) Website.--The Commission shall include the consumer 
        education materials developed under paragraph (1) on its 
        website.
    (c) GAO Report on Combating the Fraudulent Provision of Misleading 
or Inaccurate Caller Identification Information.--
            (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall conduct a study of the actions the Commission and 
        the Federal Trade Commission have taken to combat the 
        fraudulent provision of misleading or inaccurate caller 
        identification information, and the additional measures that 
        could be taken to combat such activity.
            (2) Required considerations.--In conducting the study under 
        paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall examine--
                    (A) trends in the types of scams that rely on 
                misleading or inaccurate caller identification 
                information;
                    (B) previous and current enforcement actions by the 
                Commission and the Federal Trade Commission to combat 
                the practices prohibited by section 227(e)(1) of the 
                Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(e)(1));
                    (C) current efforts by industry groups and other 
                entities to develop technical standards to deter or 
                prevent the fraudulent provision of misleading or 
                inaccurate caller identification information, and how 
                such standards may help combat the current and future 
                provision of misleading or inaccurate caller 
                identification information; and
                    (D) whether there are additional actions the 
                Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and Congress 
                should take to combat the fraudulent provision of 
                misleading or inaccurate caller identification 
                information.
            (3) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to 
        the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate a report on the findings of the 
        study under paragraph (1), including any recommendations 
        regarding combating the fraudulent provision of misleading or 
        inaccurate caller identification information.
    (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section, or the 
amendments made by this section, shall be construed to modify, limit, 
or otherwise affect any rule or order adopted by the Commission in 
connection with--
            (1) the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (Public 
        Law 102-243; 105 Stat. 2394) or the amendments made by that 
        Act; or
            (2) the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 (15 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.).

SEC. 504. REPORT ON PROMOTING BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE FOR 
              VETERANS.

    (a) Veteran Defined.--In this section, the term ``veteran'' has the 
meaning given the term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
    (b) Report Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report 
on promoting broadband Internet access service for veterans, in 
particular low-income veterans and veterans residing in rural areas. In 
such report, the Commission shall--
            (1) examine such access and how to promote such access; and
            (2) provide findings and recommendations for Congress with 
        respect to such access and how to promote such access.
    (c) Public Notice and Opportunity To Comment.--In preparing the 
report required by subsection (b), the Commission shall provide the 
public with notice and an opportunity to comment on broadband Internet 
access service for veterans, in particular low-income veterans and 
veterans residing in rural areas, and how to promote such access.

SEC. 505. METHODOLOGY FOR COLLECTION OF MOBILE SERVICE COVERAGE DATA.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section--
            (1) the term ``commercial mobile data service'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 6001 of the Middle Class Tax 
        Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1401);
            (2) the term ``commercial mobile service'' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 332(d) of the Communications Act of 
        1934 (47 U.S.C. 332(d));
            (3) the term ``coverage data'' means, if commercial mobile 
        service or commercial mobile data service is available, general 
        information about the service, which may include available 
        speed tiers, radio frequency signal levels, and network and 
        performance characteristics; and
            (4) the term ``Universal Service program'' means the 
        universal service support mechanisms established under section 
        254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) and the 
        regulations issued under that section.
    (b) Methodology Established.--Not later than 180 days after the 
conclusion of the Mobility Fund Phase II Auction, the Commission shall 
promulgate regulations to establish a methodology that shall apply to 
the collection of coverage data by the Commission for the purposes of--
            (1) the Universal Service program; or
            (2) any other similar program.
    (c) Requirements.--The methodology established under subsection (b) 
shall--
            (1) contain standard definitions for different available 
        technologies such as 2G, 3G, 4G, and 4G LTE;
            (2) enhance the consistency and robustness of how the data 
        are collected by different parties;
            (3) improve the validity and reliability of coverage data; 
        and
            (4) increase the efficiency of coverage data collection.

SEC. 506. ACCURACY OF DISPATCHABLE LOCATION FOR 9-1-1 CALLS.

    (a) Proceeding Required.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall conclude a 
proceeding to consider adopting rules to ensure that the dispatchable 
location is conveyed with a 9-1-1 call, regardless of the technological 
platform used and including with calls from multi-line telephone 
systems (as defined in section 6502 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and 
Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1471)).
    (b) Relationship to Other Proceedings.--In conducting the 
proceeding required by subsection (a), the Commission may consider 
information and conclusions from other Commission proceedings regarding 
the accuracy of the dispatchable location for a 9-1-1 call, but nothing 
in this section shall be construed to require the Commission to 
reconsider any information or conclusion from a proceeding regarding 
the accuracy of the dispatchable location for a 9-1-1 call in which the 
Commission has adopted rules or issued an order before the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) 9-1-1 call.--The term ``9-1-1 call'' means a voice call 
        that is placed, or a message that is sent by other means of 
        communication, to a public safety answering point (as defined 
        in section 222 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
        222)) for the purpose of requesting emergency services.
            (2) Dispatchable location.--The term ``dispatchable 
        location'' means the street address of the calling party, and 
        additional information such as room number, floor number, or 
        similar information necessary to adequately identify the 
        location of the calling party.

SEC. 507. NTIA STUDY ON INTERAGENCY PROCESS FOLLOWING CYBERSECURITY 
              INCIDENTS.

    (a) In General.--The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for 
Communications and Information shall complete a study on how the 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration can best 
coordinate the interagency process following cybersecurity incidents.
    (b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report detailing the findings and recommendations of the study 
conducted under subsection (a).

SEC. 508. TRIBAL DIGITAL ACCESS.

    (a) Tribal Broadband Data Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the 
        Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate a report evaluating broadband 
        coverage in Indian country (as defined in section 1151 of title 
        18, United States Code) and on land held by a Native 
        Corporation pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 
        Act.
            (2) Required assessments.--The report required by paragraph 
        (1) shall include the following:
                    (A) An assessment of areas of Indian country (as so 
                defined) and land held by a Native Corporation pursuant 
                to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act that have 
                adequate broadband coverage.
                    (B) An assessment of unserved areas of Indian 
                country (as so defined) and land held by a Native 
                Corporation pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims 
                Settlement Act.
    (b) Tribal Broadband Rulemaking.--Not later than 30 months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall complete a 
proceeding to address the unserved areas identified in the report under 
subsection (a).

                      TITLE VI--VIEWER PROTECTION

SEC. 601. RESERVE SOURCE FOR PAYMENT OF TV BROADCASTER RELOCATION 
              COSTS.

    (a) Establishment of Fund.--There is established in the Treasury of 
the United States a fund to be known as the Broadcast Repack Fund.
    (b) Availability of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--If the Commission makes the certification 
        described in paragraph (2), amounts in the Broadcast Repack 
        Fund shall be available to the Commission to make 
        reimbursements pursuant to subsection (b)(4)(A)(i) or 
        (b)(4)(A)(ii) of section 6403 of the Middle Class Tax Relief 
        and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1452).
            (2) Certification.--The certification described in this 
        paragraph is a certification from the Commission to the 
        Secretary of the Treasury that the funds available in the TV 
        Broadcaster Relocation Fund established under subsection (d) of 
        such section are likely to be insufficient to reimburse 
        reasonably incurred costs described in subsection (b)(4)(A)(i) 
        or (b)(4)(A)(ii) of such section.
            (3) Availability for payments after april 13, 2020.--
        Notwithstanding subsection (b)(4)(D) of such section, the 
        Commission may make payments pursuant to subsection 
        (b)(4)(A)(i) or (b)(4)(A)(ii) of such section from the 
        Broadcast Repack Fund after April 13, 2020, if, before making 
        any such payments after such date, the Commission submits to 
        Congress a certification that such payments are necessary to 
        reimburse reasonably incurred costs described in such 
        subsection.
    (c) Unused Funds Rescinded and Deposited Into the General Fund of 
the Treasury.--
            (1) Rescission and deposit.--If any unobligated amounts 
        remain in the Broadcast Repack Fund after the date described in 
        paragraph (2), such amounts shall be rescinded and deposited 
        into the general fund of the Treasury, where such amounts shall 
        be dedicated for the sole purpose of deficit reduction.
            (2) Date described.--The date described in this paragraph 
        is the earlier of--
                    (A) the date of a certification by the Commission 
                under paragraph (3) that all reimbursements pursuant to 
                subsections (b)(4)(A)(i) and (b)(4)(A)(ii) of such 
                section 6403 have been made; or
                    (B) July 3, 2022.
            (3) Certification.--If all reimbursements pursuant to 
        subsections (b)(4)(A)(i) and (b)(4)(A)(ii) of such section 6403 
        have been made before July 3, 2022, the Commission shall submit 
        to the Secretary of the Treasury a certification that all such 
        reimbursements have been made.
    (d) Administrative Costs.--The amount of auction proceeds that the 
salaries and expenses account of the Commission is required to retain 
under section 309(j)(8)(B) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
309(j)(8)(B)), including from the proceeds of the forward auction under 
section 6403 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 
2012 (47 U.S.C. 1452), shall be sufficient to cover the administrative 
costs incurred by the Commission in making any reimbursements out of 
the Broadcast Repack Fund.

SEC. 602. PAYMENT OF RELOCATION COSTS OF TELEVISION TRANSLATOR STATIONS 
              AND LOW POWER TELEVISION STATIONS.

    (a) Payment Required.--
            (1) In general.--From amounts made available under 
        subsection (b)(2), the Commission shall reimburse costs 
        reasonably incurred by a television translator station or low 
        power television station on or after January 1, 2017, in order 
        for such station to relocate its television service from one 
        channel to another channel or otherwise modify its facility as 
        a result of the reorganization of broadcast television spectrum 
        under subsection (b) of section 6403 of the Middle Class Tax 
        Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1452). Only 
        stations that are eligible to file and do file an application 
        in the Commission's Special Displacement Window are eligible to 
        seek reimbursement under this paragraph.
            (2) Limitation.--The Commission may not make reimbursements 
        under paragraph (1) for lost revenues.
            (3) Duplicative payments prohibited.--In the case of a low 
        power television station that has been accorded primary status 
        as a Class A television licensee under section 73.6001(a) of 
        title 47, Code of Federal Regulations--
                    (A) if the licensee of such station has received 
                reimbursement with respect to such station under 
                subsection (b)(4)(A)(i) of such section 6403 (including 
                from amounts made available under section 601 of this 
                title), or from any other source, such station may not 
                receive reimbursement under paragraph (1); and
                    (B) if such station has received reimbursement 
                under paragraph (1), the licensee of such station may 
                not receive reimbursement with respect to such station 
                under subsection (b)(4)(A)(i) of such section 6403.
            (4) Additional limitation.--The Commission may not make 
        reimbursement under paragraph (1) for costs incurred to resolve 
        mutually exclusive applications, including costs incurred in 
        any auction of available channels.
    (b) Funding.--
            (1) Establishment of fund.--There is established in the 
        Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the 
        Translator and Low Power Station Relocation Fund.
            (2) Availability of funds.--
                    (A) In general.--Amounts in the Translator and Low 
                Power Station Relocation Fund shall be available to the 
                Commission to make payments required by subsection 
                (a)(1).
                    (B) Availability after april 13, 2020.--Amounts in 
                the Translator and Low Power Station Relocation Fund 
                shall not be available to the Commission to make 
                payments required by subsection (a)(1) after April 13, 
                2020, unless, before making any such payments after 
                such date, the Commission submits to Congress a 
                certification that such payments are necessary to 
                reimburse costs reasonably incurred by a television 
                translator station or low power television station on 
                or after January 1, 2017, in order for such station to 
                relocate its television service from one channel to 
                another channel or otherwise modify its facility as a 
                result of the reorganization of broadcast television 
                spectrum under subsection (b) of section 6403 of the 
                Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 
                (47 U.S.C. 1452).
            (3) Unused funds rescinded and deposited into the general 
        fund of the treasury.--
                    (A) Rescission and deposit.--If any unobligated 
                amounts remain in the Translator and Low Power Station 
                Relocation Fund after the date described in 
                subparagraph (B), such amounts shall be rescinded and 
                deposited into the general fund of the Treasury, where 
                such amounts shall be dedicated for the sole purpose of 
                deficit reduction.
                    (B) Date described.--The date described in this 
                subparagraph is the earlier of--
                            (i) the date of a certification by the 
                        Commission under subparagraph (C) that all 
                        reimbursements pursuant to subsection (a)(1) 
                        have been made; or
                            (ii) July 3, 2023.
                    (C) Certification.--If all reimbursements pursuant 
                to subsection (a)(1) have been made before July 3, 
                2023, the Commission shall submit to the Secretary of 
                the Treasury a certification that all such 
                reimbursements have been made.
    (c) Administrative Costs.--The amount of auction proceeds that the 
salaries and expenses account of the Commission is required to retain 
under section 309(j)(8)(B) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
309(j)(8)(B)), including from the proceeds of the forward auction under 
section 6403 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 
2012 (47 U.S.C. 1452), shall be sufficient to cover the administrative 
costs incurred by the Commission in making any reimbursements out of 
the Translator and Low Power Station Relocation Fund.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Low power television station.--The term ``low power 
        television station'' means a low power TV station (as defined 
        in section 74.701 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations) 
        that was licensed and transmitting for at least 9 of the 12 
        months prior to April 13, 2017. For purposes of the preceding 
        sentence, the operation of analog and digital companion 
        facilities may be combined.
            (2) Television translator station.--The term ``television 
        translator station'' means a television broadcast translator 
        station (as defined in section 74.701 of title 47, Code of 
        Federal Regulations) that was licensed and transmitting for at 
        least 9 of the 12 months prior to April 13, 2017. For purposes 
        of the preceding sentence, the operation of analog and digital 
        companion facilities may be combined.

SEC. 603. PAYMENT OF RELOCATION COSTS OF FM BROADCAST STATIONS.

    (a) Payment Required.--
            (1) In general.--From amounts made available under 
        subsection (b)(2), the Commission shall reimburse costs 
        reasonably incurred by an FM broadcast station for facilities 
        necessary for such station to reasonably minimize disruption of 
        service as a result of the reorganization of broadcast 
        television spectrum under subsection (b) of section 6403 of the 
        Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 
        1452).
            (2) Limitation.--The Commission may not make reimbursements 
        under paragraph (1) for lost revenues.
            (3) Duplicative payments prohibited.--If an FM broadcast 
        station has received a payment for interim facilities from the 
        licensee of a television broadcast station that was reimbursed 
        for such payment under subsection (b)(4)(A)(i) of such section 
        6403 (including from amounts made available under section 601 
        of this title), or from any other source, such FM broadcast 
        station may not receive any reimbursements under paragraph (1).
    (b) Funding.--
            (1) Establishment of fund.--There is established in the 
        Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the FM 
        Broadcast Station Relocation Fund.
            (2) Availability of funds.--
                    (A) In general.--Amounts in the FM Broadcast 
                Station Relocation Fund shall be available to the 
                Commission to make payments required by subsection 
                (a)(1).
                    (B) Availability after april 13, 2020.--Amounts in 
                the FM Broadcast Station Relocation Fund shall not be 
                available to the Commission to make payments required 
                by subsection (a)(1) after April 13, 2020, unless, 
                before making any such payments after such date, the 
                Commission submits to Congress a certification that 
                such payments are necessary to reimburse costs 
                reasonably incurred by an FM broadcast station for 
                facilities necessary for such station to reasonably 
                minimize disruption of service as a result of the 
                reorganization of broadcast television spectrum under 
                subsection (b) of section 6403 of the Middle Class Tax 
                Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1452).
            (3) Unused funds rescinded and deposited into the general 
        fund of the treasury.--
                    (A) Rescission and deposit.--If any unobligated 
                amounts remain in the FM Broadcast Station Relocation 
                Fund after the date described in subparagraph (B), such 
                amounts shall be rescinded and deposited into the 
                general fund of the Treasury, where such amounts shall 
                be dedicated for the sole purpose of deficit reduction.
                    (B) Date described.--The date described in this 
                subparagraph is the earlier of--
                            (i) the date of a certification by the 
                        Commission under subparagraph (C) that all 
                        reimbursements pursuant to subsection (a)(1) 
                        have been made; or
                            (ii) July 3, 2022.
                    (C) Certification.--If all reimbursements pursuant 
                to subsection (a)(1) have been made before July 3, 
                2022, the Commission shall submit to the Secretary of 
                the Treasury a certification that all such 
                reimbursements have been made.
    (c) Administrative Costs.--The amount of auction proceeds that the 
salaries and expenses account of the Commission is required to retain 
under section 309(j)(8)(B) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
309(j)(8)(B)), including from the proceeds of the forward auction under 
section 6403 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 
2012 (47 U.S.C. 1452), shall be sufficient to cover the administrative 
costs incurred by the Commission in making any reimbursements out of 
the FM Broadcast Station Relocation Fund.
    (d) FM Broadcast Station Defined.--In this section, the term ``FM 
broadcast station'' has the meaning given such term in section 73.310 
of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations.

SEC. 604. CONSUMER EDUCATION PAYMENT.

    (a) Establishment of Fund.--There is established in the Treasury of 
the United States a fund to be known as the Broadcast Station 
Relocation Consumer Education Fund.
    (b) Availability of Funds.--Amounts in the Broadcast Station 
Relocation Consumer Education Fund shall be available to the Commission 
to make payments solely for the purposes of consumer education relating 
to the reorganization of broadcast television spectrum under subsection 
(b) of section 6403 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act 
of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1452).
    (c) Administrative Costs.--The amount of auction proceeds that the 
salaries and expenses account of the Commission is required to retain 
under section 309(j)(8)(B) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
309(j)(8)(B)), including from the proceeds of the forward auction under 
section 6403 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 
2012 (47 U.S.C. 1452), shall be sufficient to cover the administrative 
costs incurred by the Commission in making any payments out of the 
Broadcast Station Relocation Consumer Education Fund.

SEC. 605. IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT.

    The Commission shall implement and enforce this title as if this 
title is a part of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et 
seq.). A violation of this title, or a regulation promulgated under 
this title, shall be considered to be a violation of the Communications 
Act of 1934, or a regulation promulgated under such Act, respectively.

SEC. 606. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this title shall alter the final transition phase 
completion date established by the Commission for full power and Class 
A television stations.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 445

115th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 4986

                      [Report No. 115-587, Part I]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reauthorize appropriations 
   for the Federal Communications Commission, to provide for certain 
     procedural changes to the rules of the Commission to maximize 
 opportunities for public participation and efficient decisionmaking, 
                        and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                             March 6, 2018

  Reported from the Committee on Energy and Commerce with an amendment

                             March 6, 2018

 The Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Oversight and 
 Government Reform discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed