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S 312 109th Congress Senate

Local Community Radio Act of 2005

Official title: A bill to implement the recommendations of the Federal Communications Commission report to the Congress regarding low-power FM service.

Introduced: February 8, 2005 See on congress.gov
Science, Technology, Communications Administrative procedureFederal Communications CommissionGovernment Operations and PoliticsIndependent regulatory commissions
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LawLicensesRadio broadcastingRadio spectrum allocationRadio stations
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
Feb 8, 2005
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1123-1124)
Feb 8, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1123)
Feb 8, 2005
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action February 8, 2005

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1123-1124)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Local Community Radio Act of 2005 - Repeals provisions in the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, that required the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to: (1) modify rules authorizing the operation of low-power FM radio stations to prescribe minimum distance separations for third-adjacent channels; (2) prohibit applicants who have engaged in the unlicensed operation of any station from obtaining a low-power FM license; and (3) conduct a program to test whether low-power FM radio stations will result in harmful interference to existing FM radio stations if minimum distance separations for third-adjacent channels are not required.

Requires the FCC to modify its rules to eliminate third-adjacent minimum distance separation requirements between specified stations.

Requires the FCC to retain rules that provide third-adjacent channel protection for full-power noncommercial FM stations that broadcast radio reading services via a subcarrier frequency from potential low-power FM station interference.

Requires the FCC when licensing FM translator stations to ensure: (1) that licenses are available to both FM translator stations and low-power FM stations; and (2) that such decisions are made based on the needs of the local community.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 312: Local Community Radio Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-312/
MLA
"S. 312: Local Community Radio Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-312/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 312, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-312/.
Markdown link
[S. 312: Local Community Radio Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-312/)
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