A bill to implement the recommendations of the Federal Communications Commission report to the Congress regarding low power FM service.

Bill: 108-s-2505
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2004-06-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Federal Communications Commission
Government Operations and Politics
Independent regulatory commissions
Law
Licenses
Radio broadcasting
Radio spectrum allocation
Radio stations

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-04
text: 
Repeals provisions in the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, that required the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to: (1) modify rules authorizing the operation of low-power FM radio stations to prescribe minimum distance separations for third-adjacent channels; (2) prohibit applicants who have engaged in the unlicensed operation of any station from obtaining a low-power FM license; and (3) conduct a program to test whether low-power FM radio stations will result in harmful interference to existing FM radio stations if minimum distance separations for third-adjacent channels are not required.
 
Requires the FCC to modify its rules to eliminate third-adjacent minimum distance separation requirements between specified stations.
 
Requires the FCC to retain rules that provide third-adjacent channel protection for full-power noncommercial FM stations that broadcast radio reading services via a subcarrier frequency from potential low-power FM station interference.

action_date: 2004-11-19
text: 
Repeals provisions in the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, that required the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to: (1) modify rules authorizing the operation of low-power FM radio stations to prescribe minimum distance separations for third-adjacent channels; (2) prohibit applicants who have engaged in the unlicensed operation of any station from obtaining a low-power FM license; and (3) conduct a program to test whether low-power FM radio stations will result in harmful interference to existing FM radio stations if minimum distance separations for third-adjacent channels are not required.
 
Requires the FCC to modify its rules to eliminate third-adjacent minimum distance separation requirements between specified stations.
 
Requires the FCC to retain rules that provide third-adjacent channel protection for full-power noncommercial FM stations that broadcast radio reading services via a subcarrier frequency from potential low-power FM station interference.
 
Requires the FCC to retain its rules that provide third-adjacent channel protection for full-power FM stations that are licensed in significantly populated States with more than 3 million housing units and a population density greater than 1,000 people per square mile.
 
Requires the FCC to: (1) evaluate the impact of translator licensing on low and full power radio stations; and (2) implement policies that promote opportunities for locally based low power radio stations while protecting full power stations from harmful interference from translator networks.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-12-07
text: By Senator McCain from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 108-426.
action_date: 2004-12-07
text: By Senator McCain from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 108-426.
action_date: 2004-11-19
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 813.
action_date: 2004-11-19
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain with an amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2004-11-19
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain with an amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2004-07-22
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2004-06-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6482)
action_date: 2004-06-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6481-6482)
action_date: 2004-06-04
text: Introduced in Senate