[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 47 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S2769]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BURNS (for himself and Mr. Breaux):
  S. 2454. A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize 
low-power television stations to provide digital data services to 
subscribers; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record. 
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2454

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

     SECTION 1. PROVISION OF DIGITAL DATA SERVICES BY LOW-POWER 
                   TELEVISION STATIONS.

       Section 336 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
     336) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
       ``(h) LPTV Provision of Digital Data Services.--
       ``(1) In general.--A low-power television station may 
     utilize its authorized spectrum to provide digital data 
     services to the public by subscription.
       ``(2) Notice required.--Before providing such services 
     under paragraph (1), a low-power television station shall 
     provide notice to the Commission in such form and at such 
     time as the Commission may require.
       ``(3) Protection from interference.--The Commission may not 
     authorize any new service, television broadcast station, or 
     modification of any existing authority that would result in 
     the displacement of, or predicted interference with, a low-
     power television station providing such services.
       ``(4) Protection of television signals.--The Commission 
     shall prevent interference with television signal reception 
     from low-power television stations providing such services.
       ``(5) Digital data service defined.--In this subsection, 
     the term `digital data service' includes--
       ``(A) digitally-based interactive broadcast service; and
       ``(B) wireless Internet access, without regard to whether 
     such access is--
       ``(i) provided on a one-way or a two-way basis;
       ``(ii) portable or fixed; or
       ``(iii) connected to the Internet via a band allocated to 
     Interactive Video and Data Service, and

     without regard to the technology employed in delivering such 
     service, including the delivery of such service via multiple 
     transmitters at multiple locations.''.
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