Section 331 Obligation Clarification Act

Bill: 115-s-3632
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2018-11-15
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Latest action: action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-11-15
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Section 331 Obligation Clarification Act</b></p> <p>This bill applies the special service obligations of licensees of very high frequency commercial television broadcast stations to licensees who change to ultra high frequency commercial television broadcast stations.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3632 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 15, 2018 Mr. Menendez (for himself and Mr. Booker ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To provide that the special service obligations of a licensee under section 331(a) of the Communications Act of 1934 shall continue to apply even if the licensee changes from a very high frequency station to an ultra high frequency station.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Section 331 Obligation Clarification Act . 2. Special service obligations of certain licensees of ultra high frequency stations Section 331(a) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 331(a) ) is amended— (1) by striking It shall be and inserting the following: (1) In general It shall be ; (2) by striking In any case and inserting the following: (2) Reallocation to certain communities In any case ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (3) Effect of change to ultra high frequency station If a licensee that holds a license issued under paragraph (2) changes from a very high frequency commercial television broadcast station to an ultra high frequency commercial television broadcast station— (A) the change shall not affect any special service obligations imposed on the licensee as a result of the licensee obtaining the license under paragraph (2), without regard to whether the Commission imposed the obligations— (i) by rule or order; or (ii) as part of the grant or renewal of the license; and (B) the Commission may not directly or indirectly reduce or eliminate the special service obligations described in subparagraph (A) because of the change. .