Skip to main content
HR 2965 101th Congress House

Emerging Telecommunications Technologies Act of 1990

Official title: To require the Secretary of Commerce to make additional frequencies available for commercial assignment in order to promote the development and use of new tele… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To require the Secretary of Commerce to make additional frequencies available for commercial assignment in order to promote the development and use of new telecommunications technologies, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 21, 1989 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Congressional reporting requirementsCost controlFederal advisory bodiesPlanning
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Radio spectrum allocationTelecommunication industryTelecommunication policy
This bill died when the 101st Congress ended
It never became law before the 101st Congress (1989–1990) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 24 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 2, 1990
Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Jul 30, 1990
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 30, 1990
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Jul 30, 1990
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Jul 30, 1990
Considered as unfinished business.
Jul 30, 1990
DEBATE - Subsequently, pursuant to a unanimous consent agreement by Mr. Montgomery, the ordering of the yeas and nays was vacated and the question will be put to a voice vote.
Jul 30, 1990
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5, rule I, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Jul 30, 1990
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Jul 30, 1990
On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
Jul 30, 1990
Considered under suspension of the rules.
Jul 30, 1990
Mr. Ritter demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
Jul 30, 1990
Mr. Markey moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jul 27, 1990
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 393.
Jul 27, 1990
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 101-634.
Jun 19, 1990
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 19, 1990
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Jun 7, 1990
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 7, 1990
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).
Apr 30, 1990
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Feb 8, 1990
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Nov 2, 1989
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jul 31, 1989
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
Jul 21, 1989
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jul 21, 1989
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action August 2, 1990

Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Emerging Telecommunications Technologies Act of 1990 - Requires the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conduct, at least biannually, joint spectrum planning with respect to: (1) future spectrum requirements for public and private uses and the allocation actions to accommodate those uses; and (2) actions to promote the efficient use of the spectrum.

Directs the Secretary of Commerce to submit to the President and the Congress a report identifying, and recommending for reallocation or sharing, frequencies that: (1) are assigned to Government stations pursuant to the Communications Act of 1934 (the Act); (2) are not required for the present or identifiable future needs of the Government; (3) could be made available for use under the Act (other than for Government stations); (4) are most likely to have the greatest potential for commercial uses; and (5) will not result in excessive costs to the Federal Government. Sets forth criteria for identifying, and recommending for reallocation or sharing, such frequencies.

Requires the Secretary to submit to the Congress a report which makes a preliminary identification of reallocable or shared frequencies.

Directs the Secretary to convene a private sector advisory committee to: (1) review the frequencies identified in the preliminary report; (2) advise the Secretary with respect to the frequencies which should be included in the final report; (3) receive public comment on the reports; and (4) prepare and submit to the Secretary and specified congressional committees a report on recommendations for the reform of the process of allocating the electromagnetic spectrum for civilian and Government use.

Directs the President, after receiving the final report, to: (1) withdraw the assignment to a Government station of any frequency which such report recommends for reallocation; (2) limit the assignment to a Government station of any frequency which such report recommends be made available for mixed use; (3) assign or reassign other frequencies to Government stations as necessary to adjust to such withdrawal or limitation of assignments; and (4) notify the FCC and each House of Congress of the actions taken. Authorizes the President to substitute alternative frequencies in the interest of national defense, important governmental needs, public health or safety, or Federal financial considerations.

Directs the FCC to submit to the President and the Congress a plan for the distribution of the reallocated frequencies.

Authorizes the President to reclaim reassigned frequencies for reassignment to Government stations. Sets forth procedures for reclaiming frequencies. Authorizes appropriations to cover the costs of reclaiming frequencies.

 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2965: Emerging Telecommunications Technologies Act of 1990. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2965/
MLA
"H.R. 2965: Emerging Telecommunications Technologies Act of 1990." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2965/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2965, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2965/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2965: Emerging Telecommunications Technologies Act of 1990](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2965/)
Report a problem