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HR 4118 100th Congress House

Public Telecommunications Act of 1988

Official title: A bill to amend and extend the authorization of appropriations for public broadcasting, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 9, 1988 Introduced by: Markey, Edward J. Democratic · Massachusetts See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Affirmative action programsAuthorizationBroadcast journalismCommunication satellites
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Communications and BroadcastingContractsCorporationsEconomics and Public FinanceEducational televisionFederal advisory bodiesGovernment trust fundsGrants-in-aidIlliteracyImmigrantsInterestLanguage and languagesLease and rental servicesMinoritiesMinorities in mass media
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 Everywhere this bill has been 19 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 7, 1988
Became Public Law No: 100-626.
Nov 7, 1988
Signed by President.
Oct 27, 1988
Measure Signed in Senate.
Oct 27, 1988
Presented to President.
Oct 20, 1988
Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote.
Oct 20, 1988
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote.
Oct 19, 1988
Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Oct 19, 1988
Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Oct 19, 1988
Called up by House Under Suspension of Rules.
Aug 5, 1988
Placed on Union Calendar No: 497.
Aug 5, 1988
Reported to House (Amended) by House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Report No: 100-825.
Jul 12, 1988
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Jul 12, 1988
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 30, 1988
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).
Jun 30, 1988
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Apr 6, 1988
Hearings Held by the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance Prior to Referral (March 9, 88).
Apr 6, 1988
Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
Mar 9, 1988
Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mar 9, 1988
Introduced in House
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 Latest action November 7, 1988

Became Public Law No: 100-626.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Public Telecommunications Act of 1988 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize FY 1989 through 1991 appropriations for planning and constructing public telecommunications facilities.

Authorizes FY 1991 through 1993 appropriations for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

Establishes in the Treasury and authorizes appropriations to the Public Broadcasting Satellite Interconnection Fund for use by noncommercial educational television stations to replace, refurbish, or upgrade their national satellite interconnection systems.

Defines "independent producer" and "independent production entity" for purposes of eligibility for CPB grants and contracts for production of public television and radio programs.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4118: Public Telecommunications Act of 1988. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-4118/
MLA
"H.R. 4118: Public Telecommunications Act of 1988." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-4118/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4118, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-4118/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4118: Public Telecommunications Act of 1988](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-4118/)
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