PIRATE Act

Bill: 116-s-1228
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2019-04-29 in the Senate
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: 2019-04-29
text: 

Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act or the PIRATE Act

 
This bill addresses unlicensed radio broadcasting (called pirating), including by increasing to $2 million the maximum fine for a pirate radio broadcasting violation and imposing a fine of up to $100,000 per day for pirating violations subject to the $2 million limit.
 
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must (1) annually submit to Congress a report 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 band that includes each licensed station and all entities that have received a Notice of Unlicensed Operation, Notice of Apparent Liability, or Forfeiture Order from the FCC.

action_date: 2019-12-17
text: 

Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act or the PIRATE Act

 
This bill addresses unlicensed radio broadcasting (called pirating), including by increasing to $2 million the maximum fine for a pirate radio broadcasting violation and imposing a fine of up to $100,000 per day for pirating violations subject to the $2 million limit.
 
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must (1) annually submit to Congress a report 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 band that includes each licensed station and all entities that have received a Notice of Unlicensed Operation, Notice of Apparent Liability, or Forfeiture Order from the FCC.

action_date: 2020-01-08
text: 

Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act or the PIRATE Act

 
This bill addresses unlicensed radio broadcasting (called pirating), including by increasing to $2 million the maximum fine for a pirate radio broadcasting violation and imposing a fine of up to $100,000 per day for pirating violations subject to the $2 million limit.
 
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must (1) annually submit to Congress a report 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 band that includes each licensed station and all entities that have received a Notice of Unlicensed Operation, Notice of Apparent Liability, or Forfeiture Order from the FCC.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-01-09
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2020-01-09
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2020-01-09
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2020-01-08
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S81; text: CR S81)
action_date: 2020-01-08
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S81; text: CR S81)
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 374.
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker without amendment. With written report No. 116-178.
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker without amendment. With written report No. 116-178.
action_date: 2019-05-15
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate