DTV Border Fix Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2507
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2007-12-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Arizona
Boundaries
Competitive bidding
Government Operations and Politics
International Affairs
Latin America
Law
Licenses
Mexico
New Mexico
Television broadcasting
Television stations
Texas

Summary:
action_date: 2007-12-18
text: 
DTV Border Fix Act of 2007 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to allow the renewal of a full-power analog television broadcasting license through February 17, 2014, for stations located within 50 miles of the U.S. border with Mexico, provided certain requirements are met, including that the renewal does not prevent the auction of recovered spectrum or encumber or interfere with any channel reserved for public safety use. 
 
Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), if mutually exclusive applications are submitted to use a channel under the amendments made by this Act, to award the authority to use the channel through competitive bidding under existing procedures.

action_date: 2008-07-17
text: 
DTV Border Fix Act of 2008 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to allow the renewal of a full-power analog television broadcasting license through February 17, 2014, for stations located within 50 miles of the U.S. border with Mexico, provided certain requirements are met, including that the renewal does not: (1) prevent the auction of recovered spectrum; (2) encumber or interfere with any channel reserved for public safety use; and (3) prevent the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from considering or granting a request for waiver submitted for public safety service prior to enactment of this Act. 
 
Requires the FCC, if mutually exclusive applications are submitted to use a channel under the amendments made by this Act, to award the authority to use the channel through competitive bidding under existing procedures.

action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
DTV Border Fix Act of 2008 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to allow the renewal of a full-power analog television broadcasting license through February 17, 2013, for stations located within 50 miles of the U.S. border with Mexico, provided certain requirements are met, including that the renewal does not: (1) prevent the auction of recovered spectrum; (2) encumber or interfere with any channel reserved for public safety use; and (3) prevent the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from considering or granting a request for waiver submitted for public safety service prior to enactment of this Act. 
 
Requires the FCC, if mutually exclusive applications are submitted to use a channel under the amendments made by this Act, to award the authority to use the channel through competitive bidding under existing procedures.
 
Prohibits the FCC from extending or renewing a full-power television broadcast license that authorizes analog service on or after February 17, 2013.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-09-08
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2008-09-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S8005-8006)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S8005-8006)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8005; text: CR S8005)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8005-8006)
action_date: 2008-07-17
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 886.
action_date: 2008-07-17
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-424.
action_date: 2008-07-17
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-424.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2007-12-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2007-12-18
text: Introduced in Senate