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H.R. 449 103rd Congress House

Political Broadcasting Access Act of 1993

Official title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require radio and television broadcasters to provide free broadcasting time for political advertising.

Introduced: January 6, 1993 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Cable televisionFranchises (Retail trade)LicensesPolitical advertising
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Political partiesRadio in politicsStandardsTelevision in politics
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This bill died when the 103rd Congress ended
It never became law before the 103rd Congress (1993–1994) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 28, 1993
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
Jan 6, 1993
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jan 6, 1993
Introduced in House
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 Latest action January 28, 1993

Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Political Broadcasting Access Act of 1993 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require each licensee for a broadcasting station to make available annually free broadcast time for political advertising. Provides standards for time allotment, including total time to be allotted, the length of each unit of such free time, and the hours of the day and the time of the year in which such free time must be allowed. Requires national political parties meeting certain minimum qualifying standards to be treated equally for purposes of such allotment.

Provides that nothing in this Act shall restrict a candidate's or party's right to purchase other broadcast time on such station.

Requires a cable operator to make available annually free cable time for political advertising under similar requirements. Prohibits the renewal of a franchise of any cable operator that fails to comply with such requirements.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 449: Political Broadcasting Access Act of 1993. 103rd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-449/
MLA
"H.R. 449: Political Broadcasting Access Act of 1993." 103rd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-449/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 449, 103rd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-449/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 449: Political Broadcasting Access Act of 1993](https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-449/)
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