zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Fairness in Political Advertising Act of 2013 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require each licensee for a television broadcasting station to make available free broadcast time in each even-numbered year for political advertising. Provides standards for time allotment, including total time to be allotted, the length of each unit of such free time, the hours of the day and the time of the year in which such free time must be allowed, a limitation on such free time, and the use of such free time. Requires candidates meeting certain minimum qualifying standards to be treated equally for purposes of such allotment.

Provides that nothing in this Act shall restrict a candidate's right to purchase other broadcast time on such station.

Requires a cable operator to make available annually free cable time for political advertising under similar requirements.

Prohibits the renewal of the license of any television broadcast station licensee, or the franchise of any cable operator, that fails to comply with such requirements.

Date: 2013-01-03
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act - Prohibits shipping or distributing in interstate commerce, selling, or renting a video game the outside packaging of which does not display a label containing an age-based content rating determined by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB).

Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to require all retail establishments that sell video games to display information about the ESRB content rating system.

Prohibits any person from selling or renting video games containing the ESRB content rating of: (1) "adults only" to any person under the age of 18, or (2) "mature" to any person under the age of 17.

Treats violations of such requirements and prohibitions as an unfair or deceptive act or practice subject to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 per violation.

Date: 2013-01-15
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Commerce
Family Telephone Connection Protection Act of 2013 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to consider the following types of regulation of inmate telephone service: (1) prescribing a maximum uniform per-minute rate (paid to telephone service providers), (2) prescribing a maximum uniform service connection or other per-call rate, (3) prescribing variable maximum rates depending on factors such as carrier costs or the size of the correctional facility, (4) requiring providers of inmate telephone service to offer both collect calling and debit account services, (5) prohibiting the payment of commissions by such providers to administrators of correctional facilities, and (6) requiring such administrators to allow more than one service provider at a facility so that prisoners have a choice.

Date: 2013-03-25
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Prohibits federal funding to organizations incorporated for specified purposes related to: (1) broadcasting, transmitting, and programming over noncommercial educational radio broadcast stations, networks, and systems; (2) cooperating with foreign broadcasting systems and networks in international radio programming and broadcasting; (3) assisting and supporting such noncommercial educational radio broadcasting pursuant to the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967; (4) paying dues to such organizations; or (5) acquiring radio programs by or for the use of a radio broadcast station that is a public broadcast station as defined in the Communications Act of 1934.

Revises the Public Broadcasting Fund allocation formula.

Date: 2013-06-28
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Efficient Use of Government Spectrum Act of 2013 - Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), within three years after enactment of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, to: (1) reallocate electromagnetic spectrum between the frequencies from 1755 to 1780 megahertz (currently, such frequencies are occupied by the Department of Defense [DOD] and other federal agencies); and (2) as part of the competitive bidding auctions required by such Act, grant new initial licenses, subject to flexible-use service rules, for the use of such spectrum, paired with the spectrum between frequencies from 2155 to 2180 megahertz already designated for auction.

Directs the proceeds attributable to the competitive bidding of the 1755 to 1780 megahertz range to be allocated in the same manner as other specified frequencies pursuant to such Act for uses including reimbursements to agencies for relocation and sharing costs, the building of the nationwide public safety broadband network, and deposits or reimbursements to the U.S. Treasury.

Requires such spectrum to be relocated in a manner to ensure cooperation between federal and commercial entities under procedures in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act, except for DOD-operated spectrum, which shall be relocated under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000.

Directs federal entities operating a federal government station, within a specified period before commencement of competitive bidding, to identify stations that cannot be relocated without jeopardizing essential military capability. Requires the transition plans of federal entities identifying such essential spectrum to: (1) provide for non-federal users to share such stations, and (2) limit any necessary exclusion zones to the smallest possible zones.

Directs the President to withdraw assignments upon relocation or to modify assignments to permit federal and non-federal use.

Date: 2013-07-18
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) (the Secretary with respect to lands under the respective jurisdiction), for any film crew of five persons or fewer, to require a permit and assess an annual fee of $200 for commercial filming activities or similar projects on federal lands and waterways administered by the Secretary. Makes such a permit valid for such activities or projects that occur in areas designated for public use during public hours on all federal lands and waterways administered by the Secretary for a 12-month period.

Prohibits the Secretary, for persons holding such a permit, from assessing any additional fee for commercial filming activities and similar projects that occur in those areas during those hours.

Bars the Secretary from prohibiting, as a motorized vehicle or under any other purposes, the use of cameras or related equipment used for commercial filming activities or similar projects in accordance with this Act on federal lands and waterways administered by the Secretary.

Requires the Secretary to recover (under current law, collect) costs incurred as a result of filming activities or similar projects, including but not limited to, administrative and personnel costs.

Date: 2013-07-23
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Wireless Microphone Users Interference Protection Act of 2013 - Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to expand eligibility for specified licenses authorizing the operation of low power auxiliary stations to the owners of, and operators of events and performances at:

 amusement parks, arenas, convention centers, educational facilities, houses of worship, lodging facilities, museums, outdoor venues, recording studios, and theaters. Requires the FCC to: (1) expand scope of service and permissible transmission regulations to include the use of wireless microphones in rehearsals and live or recorded events and performances by such licensees, and (2) establish two safe haven channels for exclusive use by wireless microphone users.

Directs the FCC to authorize owners and operators of wireless microphones to have access to TV bands databases to protect wireless microphone operations from interference. (The purpose of the TV bands database is to provide unlicensed Television Band Devices [TVBDs] with the available TV channels at the TVBD's location and to register fixed TVBDs and other locations protected from interference that are not otherwise recorded in FCC licensing databases.)

Permits restaurants, as well as the persons and entities made eligible for licenses by this Act, to be registered in such databases as sites where wireless microphone operations shall be protected from interference.

Date: 2013-08-01
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from adopting any rule or policy prohibiting a multichannel video programming distributor from placing into service navigation devices for sale, lease, or use that perform both conditional access and other functions in a single integrated device. Repeals any such rule or policy adopted by the FCC prior to enactment of this Act.

Date: 2013-09-26
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Video Consumers Have Options in Choosing Entertainment Act of 2013 or the Video CHOICE Act of 2013 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to allow the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), if a negotiation for a replacement or extended retransmission consent agreement between a television broadcast station and a multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) reaches an impasse resulting in the expiration of the carriage rights of the MVPD, to authorize interim carriage of such station by the MVPD pending the conclusion of a new agreement.

Prohibits a station that elects to grant retransmission consent from entering into an agreement with an MVPD that is conditioned on carriage of any other programming affiliated with such station (or with a person who owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with such station).

Directs the FCC to complete a rulemaking proceeding to determine whether, during retransmission consent negotiations or after the parties to such negotiations reach an impasse resulting in the expiration of an existing agreement, the blocking of online content owned by or affiliated with a television broadcast station constitutes a failure to negotiate in good faith under communications laws addressing false, fraudulent, or unauthorized transmissions.

 Removes from the minimum contents of a basic service tier a requirement for cable system operators to provide to subscribers any signal of any television broadcast station that is provided by the cable operator to any subscriber, thereby enabling subscribers to obtain basic cable television service without receiving broadcast stations that elect to collect fees through retransmission consent agreements.

Requires each cable system operator to offer its subscribers a separately available retransmission consent service tier that consists only of the signal of each television broadcast station electing retransmission consent that is carried on the cable system. Makes such retransmission consent service tier subject to the same rate regulation as the basic service tier.

 Prohibits cable operators from requiring a subscription to any tier of service other than the required basic service tier as a condition of access to, or from discriminating between subscribers to the basic service tier and other subscribers with regard to the rates charged for: (1) video programming offered on a per channel or per program basis, or (2) the retransmission consent service established under this Act. (Thus, prohibits services or programming from being limited to certain "bundling" arrangements.)

Directs the FCC to submit to Congress an annual report regarding the costs paid by MVPDs for carriage of regional and national television sports networks in the top 20 regional sports markets.

Date: 2013-12-12
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Next Generation Television Marketplace Act - Repeals provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 concerning: (1) the carriage of distant television stations and significantly viewed signals by satellite carriers, (2) the retransmittal of television signals to eligible state counties in the designated market area of another state by cable operators or satellite carriers, (3) the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) qualified carrier certification process, (4) the designation of cable channels for commercial video programming use, (5) the carriage of local commercial television signals and qualified low power stations by cable operators, (6) the FCC's authority to adopt syndicated exclusivity rules for private home viewing of secondary transmissions by satellite of broadcast station signals, and (7) the requirement that cable systems or other multichannel video programming distributors obtain consent to retransmit a broadcasting station signal.

Repeals and revises provisions concerning: (1) the carriage of local television signals by satellite carriers, and (2) the regulation of rates and broadcast signal carriage. Makes several existing requirements concerning the carriage of local television broadcast stations applicable only to qualified noncommercial educational television stations.

Repeals federal copyright laws requiring statutory licenses for certain secondary transmissions of distant and local television programming by satellite carriers. Eliminates certain categories of remedies relating to alteration of programming violations by cable systems.

Extends exemptions from copyright infringement laws to certain secondary transmissions by cable systems and satellite carriers. Repeals provisions concerning cable system: (1) nonsimultaneous transmission infringement, and (2) statutory licenses for secondary transmissions.

Directs the FCC to repeal related FCC rules and eliminate: (1) restrictions on the number of broadcast television stations that a person or entity may own, operate, or control in the same designated market area under the local television multiple ownership rule; (2) the radio-television cross-ownership rule; and (3) limitations on the direct or indirect ownership, operation, or control of a broadcast television station by a person or entity that owns, operates, or controls a daily newspaper under the daily newspaper cross-ownership rule.

Requires this Act to take effect on January 1, 2018.

Date: 2013-12-12
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Promoting Rural Broadband Act of 2014 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), when prescribing regulations concerning the competitive bidding system under which electromagnetic spectrum licenses are auctioned to qualified bidders, to promote the expansion of spectrum-based services to exceptionally hard-to-serve populations in unserved and underserved geographic locations.

Date: 2014-01-16
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Open Internet Preservation Act of 2014 - Restores rules adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the Report and Order in the matter of preserving the open Internet and broadband industry practices (adopted on December 21, 2010) that were vacated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in Verizon v. Federal Communications Commission (decided on January 14, 2014).

Requires such rules to remain in effect until the FCC takes final action in the proceedings remanded to the FCC in such D.C. Circuit decision.

Date: 2014-02-03
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Internet Freedom Act - Prohibits regulations adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the Report and Order in the matter of preserving the open Internet and broadband industry practices (adopted December 21, 2010) from having any force or effect.

 Prohibits the FCC from reissuing such regulations in substantially the same form, or from issuing new regulations that are substantially the same, unless such regulations are specifically authorized by a law enacted after the enactment of this Act.

Exempts from such prohibitions any regulations that the FCC determines are necessary to: (1) prevent damage to U.S. national security, (2) ensure public safety, or (3) assist or facilitate actions taken by a federal or state law enforcement agency.

Date: 2014-02-21
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Protecting the Rights of Musicians Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to exempt from retransmission consent requirements under which cable systems or other multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) are prohibited from retransmitting the signal of a television broadcasting station without the originating station's consent (which is generally obtained through a retransmission consent agreement under which the cable system or other MVPD provides a negotiated payment or other consideration to the station in exchange for retransmission authority) the retransmission of the signal of a television broadcast station if the licensee of such station is also the licensee of an AM or FM radio broadcast station that has transmitted a sound recording over such radio station without providing compensation for all programming carried over the signal.

Date: 2014-05-07
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Orphan County Telecommunications Rights Act of 2014 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to permit an adjacent underserved county of a television broadcast station to file a petition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to be included in the local market of such station.

Defines "adjacent underserved county" as a county within a television broadcast station's adjacent market that is: (1) located in the same state as the station's community of license, and (2) not within the local market of any other station that is affiliated with the same television network and located in the same state.

Defines "adjacent market" as any designated market area adjacent to, and partially but not entirely in the same state as, the designated market area in which the station's community of license is located. Requires a county that is not within the local or adjacent market of any network station licensed to a community in the county's state to be considered within the adjacent market of any station licensed to a community in the nearest designated market area: (1) that is located in whole or in part within such state, and (2) with respect to which the community of license of at least one network station is located both in such designated market area and in such state.

Allows the FCC to determine that a particular county is part of the local market of more than one television broadcast station affiliated with the same television network.

Prohibits a multichannel video programming distributor, during the pendency of a proceeding on a county's petition for inclusion in the local market of a television broadcast station, from deleting the signal of a station that: (1) is affiliated with the same television network, and (2) has a local market that includes such county.

Directs the FCC, if the local market of a television broadcast station is modified to include a petitioning county, to include within the television market of such station all of the communities within such county for purposes of carriage obligation requirements under which cable operators carry the signals of local commercial television stations. Requires the FCC's modification of a station's local market under this Act to also result in a modification of such marketfor purposes of statutory licensing requirements that apply to secondary transmissions of local television programming by satellite.

Date: 2014-05-09
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to exclude from the definition of "common carrier" (regulated by the Federal Communications Commission [FCC] under the common carrier regulatory authority provided under title II of such Act) a provider of an information service or of advanced telecommunications capability when engaged in the provision of such service or capability.

Classifies broadband Internet access service as an "information service" under such Act (regulated by the FCC under title I of such Act using what is commonly referred to as a general "ancillary jurisdiction" to regulate only as may be necessary in the execution of its statutory functions).

Defines "broadband Internet access service" as a mass-market retail service by wire or radio that provides the capability to transmit data to, and receive data from, all or substantially all Internet endpoints, including any capabilities that are incidental to, and enable the operation of, the communications service, but excluding dial-up Internet access service. Provides for such definition to include a service utilizing advanced telecommunications capability under the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Prohibits a provider of an information service from being: (1) treated as a telecommunications carrier when engaged in the provision of an information service, or (2) required to offer such service or any component of such service as a telecommunications service.

Excludes from the definition of: (1) "telecommunications carrier" (treated as a common carrier only to the extent that it is engaged in providing telecommunications services, except that the FCC determines whether the provision of fixed and mobile satellite service is treated as common carriage) a provider of an information service or of advanced telecommunications capability; and (2) "telecommunications service" any service that is an information service, any component of an information service, or advanced telecommunications capability.

Date: 2014-05-28
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act of 2014 - Amends federal copyright law, as amended by the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 (STELA), to extend until December 31, 2019, the statutory license under which satellite carriers retransmit distant television broadcast stations to viewers who are unable to receive signals for such stations in their local market. (Currently, the statutory licensing authority for such satellite retransmissions is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2014.)

Date: 2014-07-09
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Commerce
Granting Our People Access to Channel Choice Act of 2014 or the GO PACC Act of 2014 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require a cable operator or satellite carrier to provide to certain subscribers in specified Wisconsin counties who elect to receive a television network: (1) retransmission of the signal of any local network station that such operator or carrier is otherwise required to retransmit; (2) an in-state, adjacent-market network station retransmission; or (3) both such retransmissions. Subjects satellite carriers to such requirements only to the extent that such retransmissions are technically feasible.

Defines "in-state, adjacent-market network station retransmission" as the secondary transmission by a cable operator or satellite carrier of the primary transmission of any network station whose community of license is located: (1) in a subscriber's state, and (2) in a local market that is adjacent to the subscriber's local market.

Provides for this Act to apply, with respect to such an in-state, adjacent-market network station retransmission to a subscriber, to specified Wisconsin counties (Barron, Burnett, Dunn, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix, and Washburn) that are not in the local market of any television broadcast station that is affiliated with the same network and whose community of license is located in the subscriber's state.

Exempts in-state, adjacent-market network station retransmissions in such counties from: (1) retransmission consent requirements that prohibit cable operators from retransmitting broadcast stations without the authority of the originating station, and (2) statutory licensing limitations under federal copyright laws concerning satellite retransmissions to unserved households and secondary transmissions of distant signals.

Date: 2014-09-18
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Wireless Consumer Choice Act - Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to direct providers of commercial mobile services and commercial mobile data services to permit their subscribers to unlock any type of wireless device used to access such services. (The "unlocking" of a mobile device enables the device to connect to different networks for the purpose of switching service providers.)

Prohibits this Act from being construed to alter the terms of any valid contract between a provider and a subscriber.

Date: 2013-03-06
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Television Consumer Freedom Act of 2013 - Allows multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) (including cable operators, multichannel multipoint distribution services, direct broadcast satellite services, or television receive-only satellite program distributors), except with respect to the minimum contents of programming required for basic tier service, to provide subscribers with any channel of video programming on an a la carte basis.

Defines "a la carte" as offering video programming for wholesale or retail purchase on an individual, per-channel basis rather than as part of a package or tier of video programming.

Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to modify the types of programming constituting the minimum contents of basic tier service.

Conditions the availability of the statutory copyright license to an MVPD on the MVPD offering local commercial television stations, and any other channels of video programming under common control with such stations, for purchase by subscribers on an a la carte basis.

Prohibits a local commercial television station from electing retransmission consent or availing itself of the protections of network program non-duplication and syndicated exclusivity regulations if such station, and any other channels of video programming under common control with such station, is not made available to MVPDs for purchase or sale on an a la carte basis. Permits a video programming vendor to offer a channel of video programming for purchase by an MVPD as part of a package only if the vendor also offers such channel for the MVPD's purchase on an a la carte basis.

Requires MVPDs and video programming vendors negotiating a la carte carriage agreements to each disclose to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the terms of their most recent offers, including price, if the parties fail to agree.

Requires a television broadcast station that does not retransmit an over-the-air signal identical to the signal retransmitted to an MVPD to forfeit any spectrum license of the station to the FCC for auctioning. Exempts commercial advertisements of up to 60 seconds in duration.

Directs the FCC to prohibit sports blackout regulations (commonly resulting in the non-airing of sporting events in local geographic markets when tickets at the venue are not sold out) from applying to the broadcast of a sporting event taking place in a venue the construction of which was financed in any part by the federal, state, or local government.

Date: 2013-05-09
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Cameras in the Courtroom Act - Requires the Supreme Court to permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court unless it decides by majority vote that allowing such coverage in a particular case would violate the due process rights of any of the parties involved.

Date: 2013-06-20
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Law
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require certain cable system operators, with channel capacity for public, educational, or governmental (PEG) use that is designated by a franchising authority under existing code provisions or required to be provided under this Act, to: (1) carry PEG-use signals to subscribers without material degradation and without altering or removing content or data; (2) provide viewable signals to every cable subscriber without additional service or equipment charges; and (3) provide to the appropriate local government subdivision (LGS), free of charge, any transmission services and the use of any transmission facilities necessary to meet such requirements.

Requires a cable operator in a state adopting applicable franchising legislation that becomes effective after May 31, 2005, to: (1) owe any LGS in which the operator provides cable service during a year beginning after enactment of this Act an LGS-determined amount for such year, within specified limits, notwithstanding requirements relating to support for cable system PEG use in such state legislation; and (2) provide a certain number of channels for PEG use in an LGS, notwithstanding requirements relating to the number of PEG-use cable channels in such state legislation.

Defines "local government subdivision" (referred to above as an LGS) as a franchising authority deriving its power to grant a franchise from state or local law or an entity considered such a franchising authority as of the day before the effective date of such state legislation relating to support.

Specifies forms of support as cash payments, in-kind support, and free services provided by the cable system operator, or its predecessor, to the LGS for the cable system's PEG use.

Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) LGS or state enforcement, and (2) nonbinding mediation and court proceedings concerning disputed support amounts.

Revises the definition of "franchise fee" including by striking a provision prohibiting such a fee from including (in the case of a franchise granted after the enactment of the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984) capital costs that the franchise requires the cable operator to incur for PEG access facilities.

Date: 2013-12-10
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Commercial Flight Courtesy Act - Prohibits an individual, with specified exceptions, from engaging in voice communications through a mobile communication device while onboard a domestic passenger aircraft.

Date: 2013-12-12
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Colorado News, Emergency, Weather, and Sports Act of 2014 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 and federal copyright law to allow cable operators or satellite carriers to offer certain Colorado-based television broadcast stations to eligible Colorado counties located in a New Mexico-based designated market area if the counties meet specified criteria according to U.S. television household estimates by Nielsen Media Research.

Date: 2014-05-21
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act of 2014 - Amends federal copyright law, as amended by the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 (STELA), to extend until December 31, 2019, the statutory license under which satellite carriers retransmit distant television broadcast stations to viewers who are unable to receive signals for such stations in their local market. (Currently, the statutory licensing authority for such satellite retransmissions is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2014.)

Expands the local service area for cable retransmissions of low power television stations.

Date: 2014-06-10
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Commerce
Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to submit to Congress a report containing an analysis of: (1) the extent to which consumers in each local market have access to broadcast programming from television broadcast stations located outside their local market; (2) whether there are alternatives to the use of designated market areas to define markets that would provide consumers with more local programming options; and (3) the potential impact that such alternatives could have on localism and on broadcast television locally, regionally, and nationally.

Requires such report to include recommendations on how to foster increased localism in states served by out-of-state designated market areas.

Date: 2014-07-22
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to exclude from the definition of "common carrier" (regulated by the Federal Communications Commission [FCC] under the common carrier regulatory authority provided under title II of such Act) a provider of an information service or of advanced telecommunications capability when engaged in the provision of such service or capability.

Classifies broadband Internet access service as an "information service" under such Act (regulated by the FCC under title I of such Act using what is commonly referred to as a general "ancillary jurisdiction" to regulate only as may be necessary in the execution of its statutory functions).

Defines "broadband Internet access service" as a mass-market retail service by wire or radio that provides the capability to transmit data to, and receive data from, all or substantially all Internet endpoints, including any capabilities that are incidental to, and enable the operation of, the communications service, but excluding dial-up Internet access service. Provides for such definition to include a service utilizing advanced telecommunications capability under the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Prohibits a provider of an information service from being: (1) treated as a telecommunications carrier when engaged in the provision of an information service, or (2) required to offer such service or any component of such service as a telecommunications service.

Excludes from the definition of: (1) "telecommunications carrier" (treated as a common carrier only to the extent that it is engaged in providing telecommunications services, except that the FCC determines whether the provision of fixed and mobile satellite service is treated as common carriage) a provider of an information service or of advanced telecommunications capability; and (2) "telecommunications service" any service that is an information service, any component of an information service, or advanced telecommunications capability.

Date: 2015-01-12
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
States' Rights Municipal Broadband Act of 2015

Amends the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to declare that the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) authority to take actions to accelerate deployment of advanced telecommunications capabilities shall not be construed to authorize the FCC to prevent states from implementing state laws regarding the provision of broadband Internet access service by states, municipalities, or political subdivisions.

Date: 2015-02-26
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Internet Freedom Act

 Nullifies the rule adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on February 26, 2015, relating to the reclassification of broadband Internet access service as a telecommunications service.

Prohibits the FCC from reissuing such rule in substantially the same form, or from issuing a new rule that is substantially the same, unless the rule is specifically authorized by a law enacted after enactment of this Act.

Exempts any rule that the FCC determines is necessary for national security, public safety, or assistance to law enforcement.

Date: 2015-03-03
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Freedom from Internet Tax Act

Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to exempt providers of broadband Internet access service (as defined in rules adopted by the Federal Communications Commission on February 26, 2015) from requirements to make contributions to the federal universal service fund.

Date: 2015-03-26
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Protecting the Rights of Musicians Act

Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to deny a television broadcast station the right to consent to retransmissions of the station's signal by cable systems or other multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) if the licensee of such station is also the licensee of an AM or FM radio broadcast station that has transmitted a sound recording over such radio station without providing compensation for all programming carried over the signal. (Under current law, retransmission consent requirements prohibit cable systems or other MVPDs from retransmitting the signal of a television broadcasting station without the station's consent, which is generally obtained through a retransmission consent agreement under which the cable system or MVPD provides a negotiated payment or other consideration to the station in exchange for retransmission authority.)

Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from requiring mobile devices (with computing and communications functionality) to be equipped with a tuner for receiving the signals of AM or FM radio broadcast stations.

Date: 2015-04-23
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require intermediate providers that offer the capability to transmit voice communications and signaling information from one destination to another, and that charge a rate to any other entity (including an affiliated entity) for such a transmission, to: (1) register with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and (2) comply with service quality standards to be established by the FCC.

An "intermediate provider" is an entity that: (1) enters a business arrangement with a long-distance voice service provider that makes the initial call path choice for more than 100,000 domestic retail subscriber lines, or with another intermediate provider, to carry, route, or transmit voice traffic from a call placed from or to an end user connection using a North American Numbering Plan resource; and (2) does not itself (directly or in conjunction with an affiliate) serve as such a long-distance initial call path choice provider in the context of originating or terminating a given call.

The bill prohibits such long-distance providers (including local exchange carriers, interexchange carriers, commercial mobile radio services, interconnected voice over Internet Protocol [VoIP] services, and certain non-interconnected VoIP services) from using an intermediate provider to transmit voice communications and signals unless the intermediate provider is so registered.

The FCC must: (1) ensure the integrity of the transmission of voice communications to all customers in the United States, (2) prevent unjust or unreasonable discrimination among areas of the United States in the delivery of such voice communications, and (3) make a registry of intermediate providers publicly available on the FCC website.

The bill shall not be construed to preempt or expand the authority of a state agency or public utility commission to collect data, or enforce state law and regulations, regarding the completion of intrastate voice communications.

Certain long-distance providers that make initial call path choices are exempt from service quality standards that the FCC is required to establish under this bill if they certify under a safe harbor provision in existing FCC rules that they monitor the performance of, or do not use, intermediate providers.

Date: 2015-05-21
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Granting Our People the Ability to Cheer Kickoff Act of 2015 or the GO PACK Act of 2015

Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require a cable operator or satellite carrier to provide to certain subscribers in specified Wisconsin counties who elect to receive a television network: (1) retransmission of the signal of any local network station that such operator or carrier is otherwise required to retransmit; (2) an in-state, adjacent-market network station retransmission; or (3) both such retransmissions. Subjects satellite carriers to such requirements only to the extent that such retransmissions are technically feasible.

Defines "in-state, adjacent-market network station retransmission" as the secondary transmission by a cable operator or satellite carrier of the primary transmission of any network station whose community of license is located: (1) in a subscriber's state, and (2) in a local market that is adjacent to the subscriber's local market.

Provides for this Act to apply, with respect to such an in-state, adjacent-market network station retransmission to a subscriber, to specified Wisconsin counties (Barron, Burnett, Dunn, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix, and Washburn) that are not in the local market of any television broadcast station that is affiliated with the same network and whose community of license is located in the subscriber's state.

Exempts in-state, adjacent-market network station retransmissions in such counties from: (1) retransmission consent requirements that prohibit cable operators from retransmitting broadcast stations without the authority of the originating station, and (2) statutory licensing limitations under federal copyright laws concerning satellite retransmissions to unserved households and secondary transmissions of distant signals.

Date: 2015-09-11
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Fairness in Political Advertising Act of 2016

This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require television broadcasting station licensees and cable operators to make available annually free broadcast or cable time for political advertising. For political candidates in a statewide or national election whose parties received more than 2% of total votes in the most recent statewide or national election, the bill requires such television broadcast station licensees and cable operators to allot an equal amount (at least two hours) of free broadcast time each even-numbered year to each candidate. The bill also sets forth standards for allotting free broadcast time during the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., during specific periods before an election, and at comparable times of day and days of the week to candidates for the same office.

Nothing in this bill, and no use of allotted free broadcast time, shall be construed to restrict a candidate's right to purchase other broadcast time.

Date: 2016-09-15
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
This bill eliminates the Federal Communications Commission's broadcast/newspaper cross-ownership ban, which prohibits a single entity, or parties under common control, from owning a daily newspaper and a full-power commercial broadcast station (AM, FM, or television) in the same market.

Date: 2016-12-07
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Community Broadband Act of 2015 

Bars states or local governments from prohibiting or inhibiting states, local government agencies, entities affiliated with state or local agencies, or Indian tribes from providing telecommunications services or advanced telecommunications capabilities to any person or any public or private entity.

Prohibits government providers of public telecommunications services from favoring themselves over competing providers in the application of regulations, ordinances, public rights-of-way, or permitting requirements.

Directs local governments or affiliates intending to provide public telecommunications services to consider public-private partnerships.

Requires local governments or affiliates, before providing telecommunications services to the public, to provide public notice and opportunities for public input and private-sector bidding.

Provides an exemption from the prohibition on local governments favoring themselves in the application of regulations, and from the requirement to provide public notice and private bidding opportunities, during an emergency declared by the President, a governor, or an authorized elected local official.

Date: 2015-01-22
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Community Access Preservation Act

Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require certain cable system operators, with channel capacity for public, educational, or governmental (PEG) use that is designated by a franchising authority under existing code provisions or required to be provided under this Act, to: (1) carry PEG-use signals to subscribers without material degradation and without altering or removing content or data; (2) provide viewable signals to every cable subscriber without additional service or equipment charges; and (3) provide to the appropriate local government subdivision (LGS), free of charge, any transmission services and the use of any transmission facilities necessary to meet such requirements.

Directs such cable system operators, upon request by the appropriate LGS, to provide for: (1) the transmission of such signals in high definition format or better; and (2) the programming schedules of such signals to be present and updated on the electronic program guide of the cable operator, with the same functionality as television broadcast stations in the applicable designated market area, through the cable operator directly or through a third party vendor.



Requires a cable operator in a state adopting applicable franchising legislation that becomes effective after May 31, 2005, to: (1) owe any LGS in which the operator provides cable service during a year beginning after enactment of this Act an LGS-determined amount for such year, within specified limits, notwithstanding requirements relating to support for cable system PEG use in such state legislation; and (2) provide a certain number of channels for PEG use in an LGS, notwithstanding requirements relating to the number of PEG-use cable channels in such state legislation.

Defines "local government subdivision" (referred to above as an LGS) as a franchising authority deriving its power to grant a franchise from state or local law or an entity considered such a franchising authority as of the day before the effective date of such state legislation relating to support.

Specifies forms of support as cash payments, in-kind support, and free services provided by the cable system operator, or its predecessor, to the LGS for the cable system's PEG use.

Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) LGS or state enforcement, and (2) nonbinding mediation and court proceedings concerning disputed support amounts.

Revises the definition of "franchise fee" including by striking a provision prohibiting such a fee from including (in the case of a franchise granted after the enactment of the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984) capital costs that the franchise requires the cable operator to incur for PEG access facilities.

Date: 2015-05-07
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Sunshine in Sponsorship Identification Act

Directs the Federal Communications Commission to update its sponsorship identification rules for commercial and political advertising to: (1) reflect current technologies and practices, (2) ensure that political broadcasts include more detailed disclosures about the identity of the true sponsors, and (3) require more detailed sponsorship identification information to be placed online or in another form more readily accessible to the public.

Date: 2015-05-07
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications