• POPULAR TITLE(S):
  Noncommercial Broadcasting Freedom of Expression bill (identified by CRS)

• SHORT TITLE(S) AS INTRODUCED:
  Noncommercial Broadcasting Freedom of Expression Act of 2000

• SHORT TITLE(S) AS REPORTED TO HOUSE:
  Noncommercial Broadcasting Freedom of Expression Act of 2000

• SHORT TITLE(S) AS PASSED HOUSE:
  Noncommercial Broadcasting Freedom of Expression Act of 2000

• OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED:
  To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to clarify the service obligations of noncommercial educational broadcast stations.

4/6/2000:

Referred to the House Committee on Commerce.

4/13/2000:

Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection.

4/13/2000:

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

5/10/2000:

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

5/10/2000:

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 11 - 5.

5/17/2000:

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

5/17/2000:

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

6/9/2000 2:07pm:

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Commerce. H. Rept. 106-662.

6/9/2000 2:08pm:

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 368.

6/19/2000 9:16pm:

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 527 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4201 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. The bill shall be considered in the House and shall be considered as read for amendment. The amendment recommended by the Committee on Commerce now printed in the bill shall be considered as adopted. Measure will be considered read. A specified amendment is in order. Provides for consideration of the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the Congressional Record, if offered by Mr. Markey or his designee, which shall be considered as read and shall be debatable for one hour equally divided between the proponent and an opponent.

6/20/2000 10:33am:

Rule H. Res. 527 passed House.

6/20/2000 10:33am:

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 527. (consideration: CR H4684-4701; text of measure as reported in House: CR H4684)

6/20/2000 10:34am:

H.AMDT.833 Amendment (A001) in the nature of a substitute offered by the Committee on Commerce. (consideration: CR H4684; text: CR H4684)
Pursuant to H. Res. 427, the amendment recommended by the Committee on Commerce now printed in the bill (H. Rept. 106-662) shall be considered as adopted.

6/20/2000 10:34am:

H.AMDT.833 On agreeing to the Commerce amendment (A001) Agreed to without objection.

6/20/2000 11:38am:

H.AMDT.834 Amendment (A002) in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Markey. (consideration: CR H4692-4701; text: CR H4692-4693)
Amendment in the nature of a substitute sought to limit the eligibility to hold a noncommercial license to those that serve an educational, instructional, cultural, or educational religious purpose.

6/20/2000 12:46pm:

H.AMDT.834 The previous question was ordered on the amendment (A002) and on the bill pusuant to the rule.

6/20/2000 1:08pm:

H.AMDT.834 On agreeing to the Markey amendment (A002) Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 174 - 250 (Roll no. 294).

6/20/2000 1:28pm:

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 264 - 159 (Roll no. 295).

6/20/2000 1:28pm:

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

6/21/2000:

Received in the Senate.

7/27/2000:

Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

9/5/2000:

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 779.

Committee/Subcommittee:		Activity:
House Commerce		Referral, Reporting
	Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection	Referral, Reporting

Bill:	Relationship:
H.RES.527	Rule related to H.R.4201 in House

1. H.AMDT.833 to H.R.4201 Pursuant to H. Res. 427, the amendment recommended by the Committee on Commerce now printed in the bill (H. Rept. 106-662) shall be considered as adopted.
Sponsor: House Commerce - Latest Major Action: 6/20/2000 House amendment agreed to
Committees: House Commerce

2. H.AMDT.834 to H.R.4201 Amendment in the nature of a substitute sought to limit the eligibility to hold a noncommercial license to those that serve an educational, instructional, cultural, or educational religious purpose.
Sponsor: Rep Markey, Edward J. - Latest Major Action: 6/20/2000 House amendment not agreed to

Rep Armey, Richard K. - 4/13/2000	Rep Baker, Richard H. - 5/4/2000
Rep Bilirakis, Michael - 5/4/2000	Rep Blunt, Roy - 5/15/2000
Rep Burr, Richard - 5/4/2000	Rep Callahan, Sonny - 5/4/2000
Rep Coburn, Tom A. - 5/9/2000	Rep Cox, Christopher - 5/4/2000
Rep Cubin, Barbara - 4/13/2000	Rep Deal, Nathan - 5/4/2000
Rep DeLay, Tom - 5/4/2000	Rep Dickey, Jay - 5/4/2000
Rep Ehrlich, Robert L., Jr. - 4/13/2000	Rep Emerson, Jo Ann - 5/16/2000
Rep Fossella, Vito - 5/4/2000	Rep Gillmor, Paul E. - 4/13/2000
Rep Goodlatte, Bob - 5/4/2000	Rep Green, Mark - 6/8/2000
Rep Hall, Ralph M. - 5/16/2000	Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. - 5/4/2000
Rep Largent, Steve - 4/6/2000	Rep Manzullo, Donald A. - 5/15/2000
Rep Oxley, Michael G. - 4/6/2000	Rep Ramstad, Jim - 5/4/2000
Rep Rogan, James E. - 5/4/2000	Rep Shimkus, John - 4/13/2000
Rep Shows, Ronnie - 6/8/2000	Rep Stearns, Cliff - 4/6/2000
Rep Tancredo, Thomas G. - 5/4/2000	Rep Tauzin, W. J. (Billy) - 4/6/2000
Rep Terry, Lee - 6/8/2000	Rep Whitfield, Ed - 5/4/2000
Rep Wilson, Heather - 5/9/2000

Noncommercial Broadcasting Freedom of Expression Act of 2000 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to allow a nonprofit organization to hold a noncommercial educational (NCE) radio or television license if the station is used primarily to broadcast material that such organization or entity determines serves an educational, instructional, cultural, or religious purpose in that community, unless such determination is arbitrary or unreasonable.

Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from: (1) imposing or enforcing any quantitative requirement on NCE licenses based on the number of hours of programming that serve such purposes; or (2) imposing or enforcing any other programming content requirement on an NCE license that is not imposed on a licensee, permittee, or applicant for a commercial radio or television license. Specifies that NCE licensees remain subject to applicable provisions of the Children's Television Act and the requirements of the Public Broadcasting Act.

Exempts NCE stations from requirements to make broadcast stations accessible to political candidates and directs the FCC to amend its rules governing political broadcasting to provide that such rules do not apply to NCE stations.

Requires each public telecommunications entity that receives funds from donors to undergo an annual audit (current law) which shall include a determination of such entity's compliance with donor privacy protection requirements.

Prohibits the FCC from establishing, expanding, or otherwise modifying requirements relating to the service obligations of noncommercial educational radio or television stations except by means of agency rulemaking.