COMMUNICATIONS ACT

Bills and resolutions

Business and industry: prevent excessive concentration of ownership of the nation's media outlets, restore fairness in broadcasting, and foster and promote localism, diversity, and competition in the media (see H.R. 3302), H5913 [14JY]

Computers: provide unexpended universal service funds to low-income schools for updating of computer hardware (see H.R. 102), H135 [6JA]

FCC: amend media ownership rules (see H.R. 1622), H1969 [13AP]

———increase participation by small businesses in spectrum auctions (see H.R. 1661), H2101 [14AP]

News media: ensure that prepackaged news stories contain announcements that inform viewers that the information within was provided by the U.S. Government (see S. 967), S4547 [28AP]

Telecommunications: ensure availability of certain spectrum for public safety entities by establishing a certain date by which the transition to digital television shall be completed (see S. 1237), S6481 [14JN] (see S. 1268), S6825 [20JN]

———expand contribution base and establish separate fund within the universal service fund to support deployment of broadband services in unserved areas (see S. 1583), S9467 [29JY]

———protect privacy rights of subscribers to wireless communication services (see S. 1350), S7820 [30JN] (see H.R. 1139), H988 [7MR]

———shorten term of broadcast licenses and improve public access to broadcasters' public interests and programming information (see S. 383), S1413 [15FE] (see H.R. 1665), H2101 [14AP]

Telephones: prohibit use of autodialers for purposes of political solicitations (see H.R. 2294), H3197 [11MY]

Television: ensure full access to digital television in areas served by low-power television (see S. 1600), S9468 [29JY]

———require multi-channel video programming distributors to provide a kid-friendly tier of programming (see S. 946), S4546 [28AP]

Universal Service Administration Co.: exempt from Antideficiency Act accounting rules to improve administration of, and prevent increases in, contributions to the Universal Service Fund (see S. 241), S739 [1FE] (see H.R. 2533), H3768 [23MY]

Remarks in House

FCC: increase participation by small businesses in spectrum auctions (H.R. 1661), E662 [15AP]

News media: ensure that prepackaged news stories contain announcements that inform viewers that the information within was provided by the U.S. Government and prohibit payment to journalists for publicity or propaganda, H2915, H2916 [4MY]

Telecommunications: shorten term of broadcast licenses and improve public access to broadcasters' public interests and programming information (H.R. 1665), E663 [15AP]

Universal Service Administration Co.: exempt from Antideficiency Act accounting rules to improve administration of, and prevent increases in, contributions to the Universal Service Fund (H.R. 2533), E1063 [23MY]

Remarks in Senate

Supreme Court: decision blocking implementation of FCC rules relaxing media ownership restrictions, S6356 [13JN]

Telecommunications: allocate certain excess proceeds from the spectrum auction to deficit reduction, emergency communications interoperability, and assistance to disaster-affected coastal States, S12310 [3NO]

———ensure availability of certain spectrum for public safety entities by establishing a certain date by which the transition to digital television shall be completed (S. 1237), S6486 [14JN]

———ensure availability of certain spectrum for public safety entities by establishing a certain date by which the transition to digital television shall be completed (S. 1268), S6828 [20JN], S9973 [13SE]

———expand contribution base and establish separate fund within the universal service fund to support deployment of broadband services in unserved areas (S. 1583), S9505-S9507 [29JY]

———protect privacy rights of subscribers to wireless communication services (S. 1350), S7833 [30JN]

———shorten term of broadcast licenses and improve public access to broadcasters' public interests and programming information (S. 383), S1424 [15FE]

Television: ensure full access to digital television in areas served by low-power television, S14211 [21DE]

———ensure full access to digital television in areas served by low-power television (S. 1600), S9520 [29JY]

———require multi-channel video programming distributors to provide a kid-friendly tier of programming (S. 946), S4565 [28AP], S13740 [16DE]

Universal Service Administration Co.: exempt from Antideficiency Act accounting rules to improve administration of, and prevent increases in, contributions to the Universal Service Fund, S10072 [15SE]

———exempt from Antideficiency Act accounting rules to improve administration of, and prevent increases in, contributions to the Universal Service Fund (S. 241), S749 [1FE]

Reports filed

Truth in Broadcasting Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 967) (S. Rept. 109-210), S14185 [20DE]

Texts of

S. 383, Localism in Broadcasting Reform Act, S1425 [15FE]

S. 946, Kid Friendly TV Programming Act, S4565 [28AP]

S. 1268, Spectrum Availability for Emergency-Response and Law-Enforcement To Improve Vital Emergency Services (SAVE LIVES) Act, S6828-S6831 [20JN]

S. 1350, Wireless 411 Privacy Act, S7834 [30JN]

S. 1583, Universal Service for the 21st Century Act, S9506 [29JY]