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S 1497 108th Congress Senate Science, Technology, Communications Campaign funds Checkoff Congress Congressional elections Democratic Party Government Operations and Politics Law License agreements Political parties Politicians Presidential elections Press and politics Radio in politics Republican Party Tax returns Taxation Television in politics

Our Democracy, Our Airwaves Act of 2003

Introduced: July 30, 2003 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 30, 2003
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10272-10275)
Jul 30, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10272)
Jul 30, 2003
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Our Democracy, Our Airwaves Act of 2003 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the lowest unit charge for radio or television broadcast time to a national committee of a political party acting on behalf of a candidate for public office. Prohibits a licensee of a broadcasting station, except under circumstances beyond its control, from preempting the use of such station by an eligible candidate or political committee who has paid for such use. Requires audits of stations to ensure the provision of broadcasting advertising time for political candidates. Provides minimum time requirements for candidate- or issue-centered broadcasts by stations.

Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish and administer a voucher program for the purchase of airtime for political advertisements on radio and television broadcast stations by eligible candidates and political party committees as certified by the FCC. Provides maximum voucher amounts for both candidates and political committees. Allows such vouchers to be used exclusively for the purchase of airtime; but allows the transfer of vouchers between a political party and a candidate and vice versa. Requires the FCC to redeem all vouchers accepted by such stations. Provides for voucher expiration. Directs the FCC to establish the Political Advertising Voucher Account and to collect and deposit into it an annual spectrum use fee based on a percentage of a station's gross revenues. Directs the FCC to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish a standardized form for use by broadcasting stations to record and report the purchase of advertising time by or on behalf of a candidate for nomination for election, or for election, to Federal elective office.

What's happening now July 30, 2003

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10272-10275)

 Committees of jurisdiction 1