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S 1207 101th Congress Senate Government Operations and Politics Administrative procedure Independent regulatory commissions Licenses Radio broadcasting Radio programs

Radio License Renewal and Improvements Act of 1989

Introduced: June 20, 1989 See on congress.gov
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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 20, 1989
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Jun 20, 1989
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Radio License Renewal and Improvements Act of 1989 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission, with respect to applications for radio license broadcast renewals, to grant a renewal if during the preceding term of the license the licensee: (1) has broadcast material responsive to issues of concern to the residents of its service area; and (2) has not committed violations of such Act or the rules or regulations of the Commission, which taken together would constitute a pattern of abuse. Authorizes the Commission to deny a renewal or grant limited renewal if an applicant has failed to meet such requirements.

Prohibits the Commission, in evaluating a licensee's performance in broadcasting material responsive to matters of public concern, from establishing or applying any requirement with respect to the broadcast of any specific subject or quantity of material. Directs the Commission to accept the licensee's judgment if found to be reasonable and made in good faith.

Prohibits the Commission, in determining whether to renew a license, from considering whether the public interest, convenience, and necessity might be served by granting a license to a competing applicant.

Directs the Commission to conduct an inquiry and prescribe any necessary regulations concerning any additional information that licensees should be required to maintain and make available to the public regarding the licensee's responsibility to broadcast material responsive to matters of public concern.

Makes it unlawful for a license applicant and any other person, while a license application is pending, to effectuate an agreement whereby the other person withdraws or withholds the filing of a competing application, an informal objection, or a petition to deny in exchange for the payment of anything of value by, or on behalf of, the applicant.

Requires the Commission to establish a procedure for the review of informal complaints received by the Commission during the license term of a radio licensee. Authorizes the Commission to consider such complaints at the time of a license renewal if such complaints constitute a pattern of abuse for purposes of this Act or evidence of the licensee's effort to serve the public interest.

What's happening now June 20, 1989

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1207: Radio License Renewal and Improvements Act of 1989. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-S-1207/
MLA
"S. 1207: Radio License Renewal and Improvements Act of 1989." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-S-1207/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1207, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-S-1207/.
Markdown link
[S. 1207: Radio License Renewal and Improvements Act of 1989](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-S-1207/)
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