Bill Summary & Status for the 106th Congress

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S.3020
Sponsor: Sen Grams, Rod (introduced 9/7/2000)
Latest Major Action: 9/7/2000 Referred to Senate committee
Title: A bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to revise its regulations authorizing the operation of new, low-power FM radio stations.
Jump to: Titles, Status, Committees, Related Bill Details, Amendments, Cosponsors, Summary

TITLE(S):  (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill)
STATUS: (color indicates Senate actions)
9/7/2000:
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8210-8211)

COMMITTEE(S):
RELATED BILL DETAILS:

***NONE***


AMENDMENT(S):

***NONE***


COSPONSORS(28), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]:     (Sort: by date)

Sen Abraham, Spencer - 9/8/2000 Sen Baucus, Max - 9/7/2000
Sen Bennett, Robert F. - 9/25/2000 Sen Brownback, Sam - 10/17/2000
Sen Bryan, Richard H. - 9/18/2000 Sen Bunning, Jim - 9/13/2000
Sen Chafee, Lincoln D. - 9/21/2000 Sen Collins, Susan M. - 10/5/2000
Sen Conrad, Kent - 9/19/2000 Sen Crapo, Michael D. - 9/13/2000
Sen DeWine, Michael - 10/4/2000 Sen Enzi, Michael B. - 10/18/2000
Sen Gorton, Slade - 9/28/2000 Sen Grassley, Charles E. - 9/26/2000
Sen Gregg, Judd - 9/7/2000 Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey - 9/7/2000
Sen Inhofe, James M. - 9/7/2000 Sen Leahy, Patrick J. - 9/28/2000
Sen Lincoln, Blanche - 9/8/2000 Sen Nickles, Don - 9/26/2000
Sen Robb, Charles S. - 9/13/2000 Sen Santorum, Rick - 9/12/2000
Sen Sessions, Jeff - 10/2/2000 Sen Shelby, Richard C. - 10/3/2000
Sen Snowe, Olympia J. - 9/27/2000 Sen Specter, Arlen - 9/19/2000
Sen Thomas, Craig - 9/14/2000 Sen Voinovich, George V. - 10/25/2000


SUMMARY AS OF:
9/7/2000--Introduced.

Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act of 2000 - Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to modify its rules authorizing the operation of low-power FM radio stations to: (1) prescribe minimum distance separations for third-adjacent channels (as well as co-channels and first- and second-adjacent channels); and (2) prohibit any applicant from obtaining a low-power FM license if such applicant has engaged in the unlicensed operation of any radio station in violation of FCC radio licensing requirements.

Prohibits the FCC, without specific authorization by Congress, from: (1) eliminating or reducing such minimum distance separations for third-adjacent channels; or (2) extending the eligibility for low-power FM stations beyond those organizations and entities proposed in MM Docket No. 99-25.

Invalidates any previously issued low-power FM station license that does not comply with such rule modifications.

Directs the FCC to conduct an experimental program to test whether low- power FM stations will result in harmful interference to existing FM radio stations if such stations are not subject to the minimum distance separation requirements. Requires the FCC to: (1) publish test results and allow an opportunity for public comment; and (2) report test results and FCC recommendations on reducing or eliminating minimum distance standards to specified congressional committees.