Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act

Bill: 115-hr-5709
Sponsor: Rep. Lance, Leonard [R-NJ-7]
Introduced: 2018-05-08 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Government information and archives
Licensing and registrations

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: 

Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act or the PIRATE Act

 
This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to address unlawful radio broadcasting (called "pirating"), including:
 
 
making the fine for a pirate radio broadcasting violation up to $100,000 per day (Currently, there is a general penalty of up to $10,000 for any wire and radio communications law violation.); 
 
establishing a fine of up to $2,000,000 for any person who facilitates pirate radio broadcasting ("facilitating" includes providing access to property or providing physical goods or services); and 
 
requiring the Federal Communications Commission to focus on the top five radio markets twice a year to eliminate pirate radio broadcasting. 


action_date: 2018-07-18
text: 

Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act or the PIRATE Act

 
This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to address unlicensed radio broadcasting (called "pirating"), including:
 
 
increasing the fine for a pirate radio broadcasting violation to not more than $2 million, 
 
imposing a fine of up to $100,000 per day for pirating violations subject to the $2 million limit, and 
 
establishing a fine of up to $2 million for any person who facilitates pirate radio broadcasting ("facilitating" includes providing access to property or providing physical goods or services). 

 
The FCC must: (1) annually report to Congress summarizing implementation of this bill and associated enforcement activities for the previous fiscal year; and (2) at least once a year, assign appropriate enforcement personnel to focus specific and sustained attention on the elimination of pirate radio broadcasting within the top five radio markets.
 
The FCC may not preempt any state or local law prohibiting pirate radio broadcasting.
 
The FCC shall: (1) revise its rules to require that, absent good cause, in any case alleging a violation, it shall proceed directly to issue a Notice of Apparent Liability without first issuing a Notice of Unlicensed Operations; and (2) publish a database of all licensed radio stations operating in the AM and FM bands, which shall be easily accessible from the FCC home page, identifying each licensed station and all entities that have received a Notice of Unlicensed Operation, Notice of Apparent Liability, or Forfeiture Order by the FCC.

action_date: 2018-07-23
text: 

Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act or the PIRATE Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to address unlicensed radio broadcasting (called "pirating"), including:
 
 
increasing the fine for a pirate radio broadcasting violation to not more than $2 million, 
 
imposing a fine of up to $100,000 per day for pirating violations subject to the $2 million limit, and 
 
establishing a fine of up to $2 million for any person who facilitates pirate radio broadcasting ("facilitating" includes providing access to property or providing physical goods or services). 

 
The FCC must: (1) annually report to Congress summarizing implementation of this bill and associated enforcement activities for the previous fiscal year; and (2) at least once a year, assign appropriate enforcement personnel to focus specific and sustained attention on the elimination of pirate radio broadcasting within the top five radio markets.
 
The FCC may not preempt any state or local law prohibiting pirate radio broadcasting.
 
The FCC shall: (1) revise its rules to require that, absent good cause, in any case alleging a violation, it shall proceed directly to issue a Notice of Apparent Liability without first issuing a Notice of Unlicensed Operations; and (2) publish a database of all licensed radio stations operating in the AM and FM bands, which shall be easily accessible from the FCC home page, identifying each licensed station and all entities that have received a Notice of Unlicensed Operation, Notice of Apparent Liability, or Forfeiture Order by the FCC.
 
(Sec. 3) No additional funds are authorized to carry out this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-07-24
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2018-07-23
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2018-07-23
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6597)
action_date: 2018-07-23
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6597)
action_date: 2018-07-23
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5709.
action_date: 2018-07-23
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6597-6598)
action_date: 2018-07-23
text: Mr. Lance moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2018-07-18
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 652.
action_date: 2018-07-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 115-843.
action_date: 2018-07-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 115-843.
action_date: 2018-07-12
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2018-07-12
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2018-06-13
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2018-06-13
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2018-05-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: Introduced in House