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Bill93th CongressFiled Feb 21, 1974Government Operations and Politics
H.R. 12993

Broadcast License Renewal Act

Bill journey · stage 1 of 5

Just introduced

Filed
Comm.
Floor
Both
Law

What it doesSummary passed senate amended (Oct 8, 1974)

(LATEST SUMMARY)

Broadcast License Renewal Act - Requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish procedures to be followed by licensees of broadcasting stations to ascertain the needs, problems, and interests of their viewers.

Sets the term of a broadcast station license or renewal of such license at five years.

Sets forth criteria to be used by the FCC in determining whether renewal of a broadcast license would serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity.

Directs the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a study to determine how it might expedite the elimination of those regulations of broadcast licensees required by the Communications Act of 1934 which do not serve the public interest and shall make annual reports of the results of such study (including any recommendations for legislation) to the Committee on Commerce of the Senate and the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce of the House of Representatives.

Requires the FCC, not later than December 31, 1974, to complete all proceedings and take such agency action as it deems appropriate in connection with proposed amendments to the Commission's rules relating to multiple ownership of standard, frequency modulation, and television broadcast stations.

Requires the FCC, in applying its multiple ownership rules, to consider any bank, mutual fund, or insurance company that owns or controls 5 percent of the outstanding voting stock of a corporate licensee which has more than 50 voting stockholders as having a controlling interest in such corporate licensee.

What just happenedOct 8, 1974

Conference scheduled in Senate.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Macdonald, Torbert H. [D-MA-7](D-MA)Sponsor
9 cosponsors4 D5 R
Read on Congress.gov
9cosponsors2committees13actions1related bills5subjects
  1. Oct 8, 1974ResolvingDifferences

    Conference scheduled in Senate.

  2. Oct 8, 1974Floor

    Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #464 (69-2).

  3. Oct 8, 1974Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #464 (69-2).

  4. Sep 27, 1974Committee

    Reported to Senate from the Committee on Commerce with amendment, S. Rept 93-1190.

    Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  5. Sep 27, 1974Committee14000

    Reported to Senate from the Committee on Commerce with amendment, S. Rept 93-1190.

    Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  6. May 2, 1974IntroReferral

    Referred to Senate Committee on Commerce.

    Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  7. May 1, 1974FloorH37100

    Measure passed House, amended, roll call #198 (379-14).

  8. May 1, 1974Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: Measure passed House, amended, roll call #198 (379-14).

  9. Mar 28, 1974CommitteeH12200

    Reported to House from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce with amendment, H. Rept. 93-961.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  10. Mar 28, 1974Committee5000

    Reported to House from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce with amendment, H. Rept. 93-961.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  11. Feb 21, 1974IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  12. Feb 21, 1974IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  13. Feb 21, 1974IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed Senate amendedOct 8, 197435
(LATEST SUMMARY)

Broadcast License Renewal Act - Requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish procedures to be followed by licensees of broadcasting stations to ascertain the needs, problems, and interests of their viewers.

Sets the term of a broadcast station license or renewal of such license at five years.

Sets forth criteria to be used by the FCC in determining whether renewal of a broadcast license would serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity.

Directs the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a study to determine how it might expedite the elimination of those regulations of broadcast licensees required by the Communications Act of 1934 which do not serve the public interest and shall make annual reports of the results of such study (including any recommendations for legislation) to the Committee on Commerce of the Senate and the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce of the House of Representatives.

Requires the FCC, not later than December 31, 1974, to complete all proceedings and take such agency action as it deems appropriate in connection with proposed amendments to the Commission's rules relating to multiple ownership of standard, frequency modulation, and television broadcast stations.

Requires the FCC, in applying its multiple ownership rules, to consider any bank, mutual fund, or insurance company that owns or controls 5 percent of the outstanding voting stock of a corporate licensee which has more than 50 voting stockholders as having a controlling interest in such corporate licensee.

Introduced in HouseFeb 21, 197400

Broadcast License Renewal Act - Requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish procedures to be followed by licensees of broadcasting stations to ascertain the needs, views, and interests of their viewers.

Sets the term of a broadcast station license or renewal, at four years and for any other class of station at five years.

Provides that any license granted may upon its expiration be renewed, if the Commission finds that the public interest, convenience, and necessity would be served by the renewal of such license.

Requires that in considering any application for renewal of a broadcast license the Commission shall not consider: (1) the ownership interests or official connections of the applicant in other stations or other communications media or other businesses, or (2) the participation of ownership in the management of the station for which such application has been filed, unless the Commission has adopted rules prohibiting such ownership interests or activities or prescribing management structures, as the case may be, and given the renewal applicant a reasonable opportunity to conform with such rules.

Directs the Commission to prescribe procedures to encourage licensees of broadcasting stations and persons raising significant issues regarding the operations of such stations to conduct, during the term of the licenses for such stations, good faith negotiations to resolve such issues.

Directs the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a study to determine how it might expedite the elimination of those regulations of broadcast licensees required by the Communications Act of 1934 which do not serve the public interest and shall make annual reports of the results of such study (including any recommendations for legislation) to the Committee on Commerce of the Senate and the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce of the House of Representatives.

Directs the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a study of the social, economic, political, or other consequences of the ownership of more than one broadcasting station by one person and the ownership by one person of one or more broadcasting stations and one or more newspapers or other communications media.