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HR 1147 111th Congress House Science, Technology, Communications Administrative law and regulatory procedures Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Licensing and registrations

Local Community Radio Act of 2009

Introduced: February 24, 2009 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 20 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 24, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Dec 17, 2009
Received in the Senate.
Dec 16, 2009
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 16, 2009
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR 12/15/2009 H14903)
Dec 16, 2009
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR 12/15/2009 H14903)
Dec 16, 2009
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H15473)
Dec 15, 2009
At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Boucher objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
Dec 15, 2009
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1147.
Dec 15, 2009
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H14903-14907)
Dec 15, 2009
Mr. Boucher moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Dec 14, 2009
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 220.
Dec 14, 2009
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 111-375.
Oct 15, 2009
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Oct 15, 2009
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Oct 8, 2009
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
Oct 8, 2009
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 11, 2009
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Feb 25, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet.
Feb 24, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Feb 24, 2009
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Local Community Radio Act of 2009 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to modify the rules authorizing the operation of low-power FM radio stations, as proposed in MM Docket No. 99-25, to: (1) prescribe protection for co-channels and first- and second-adjacent channels; and (2) prohibit any applicant from obtaining a low-power FM license if the applicant has engaged in any manner in the unlicensed operation of any station in violation of the Communications Act of 1934. (Current law is the same, except that clause (1) instead requires prescribing minimum distance separations for third-adjacent channels, as well as for co-channels and first- and second-adjacent channels.)

States that any license that was issued by the FCC to a low-power FM station prior to April 2, 2001, and that does not comply with the modifications adopted by the Commission in the above docket on April 2, 2001, shall remain invalid.

Eliminates provisions prohibiting the FCC from extending the eligibility for application for low-power FM stations beyond the organizations and entities as proposed in the above docket.

(Sec. 3) Requires the FCC to eliminate third-adjacent minimum distance separation requirements between: (1) low-power FM stations; and (2) full-service FM stations, FM translator stations, and FM booster stations.

(Sec. 4) Requires the FCC to comply with its existing minimum distance separation requirements for full-service FM stations, FM translator stations, and FM booster stations that broadcast radio reading services via an analog subcarrier frequency to avoid potential interference by low-power FM stations.

(Sec. 5) Requires the FCC, when licensing new FM translator stations, FM booster stations, and low-power FM stations, to ensure that: (1) licenses are available to FM translator stations, FM booster stations, and low-power FM stations; and (2) such decisions are made based on the needs of the local community.

(Sec. 6) Requires the FCC to modify its rules to address the potential for predicted interference to FM translator input signals on third-adjacent channels set forth in a specified technical report.

(Sec. 7) Requires the FCC to modify the interference complaint process in specified ways.

(Sec. 8) Requires the FCC to study and report to Congress on the impact that low-power FM stations will have on full-service commercial FM stations.

What's happening now December 24, 2009

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3