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HR 5085 109th Congress House Science, Technology, Communications Administrative procedure Broadband Federal Communications Commission Government Operations and Politics Government paperwork Independent regulatory commissions Law Licenses Planning Television broadcasting Television frequency allocation Television stations Wireless communication

American Broadband for Communities Act

Introduced: April 4, 2006 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) 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
Apr 19, 2006
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
Apr 4, 2006
Introduced in House
Apr 4, 2006
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

American Broadband for Communities Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize the use of any unused broadcast television spectrum in the band between 54 and 698 megaHertz, other than between 608 and 614 megaHertz, by unlicensed devices, including wireless broadband devices.

Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to: (1) adopt minimal technical and device rules to develop the use of such spectrum by such unlicensed devices; and (2) establish specified rules and procedures, including to protect incumbent licensed services from harmful interference from such unlicensed devices, and to address complaints from licensed broadcast stations that an unlicensed device using such spectrum causes harmful interference.

What's happening now April 19, 2006

Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 2332 Related bill American Broadband for Communities Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 1 Republican 1
D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Apr 4, 2006
 R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · Apr 4, 2006
BOUCHER, RICK
· Apr 4, 2006
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5085: American Broadband for Communities Act. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-5085/
MLA
"H.R. 5085: American Broadband for Communities Act." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-5085/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5085, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-5085/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5085: American Broadband for Communities Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-5085/)
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