HR 5709 115th Congress House Science, Technology, Communications Administrative law and regulatory procedures Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies Congressional oversight Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Government information and archives Licensing and registrations

PIRATE Act

Introduced: May 8, 2018 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 16 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Jul 24, 2018

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

Jul 23, 2018

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Jul 23, 2018

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6597)

Jul 23, 2018

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6597)

Jul 23, 2018

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5709.

Jul 23, 2018

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6597-6598)

Jul 23, 2018

Mr. Lance moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

Jul 18, 2018

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 652.

Jul 18, 2018

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 115-843.

Jul 12, 2018

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Jul 12, 2018

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Jun 13, 2018

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .

Jun 13, 2018

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

May 11, 2018

Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

May 8, 2018

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

May 8, 2018

Introduced in House

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Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act or the PIRATE Act

This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to address unlicensed radio broadcasting (called "pirating"), including:

increasing the fine for a pirate radio broadcasting violation to not more than $2 million,
imposing a fine of up to $100,000 per day for pirating violations subject to the $2 million limit, and
establishing a fine of up to $2 million for any person who facilitates pirate radio broadcasting ("facilitating" includes providing access to property or providing physical goods or services).

The FCC must: (1) annually report to Congress summarizing implementation of this bill and associated enforcement activities for the previous fiscal year; and (2) at least once a year, assign appropriate enforcement personnel to focus specific and sustained attention on the elimination of pirate radio broadcasting within the top five radio markets.

The FCC may not preempt any state or local law prohibiting pirate radio broadcasting.

The FCC shall: (1) revise its rules to require that, absent good cause, in any case alleging a violation, it shall proceed directly to issue a Notice of Apparent Liability without first issuing a Notice of Unlicensed Operations; and (2) publish a database of all licensed radio stations operating in the AM and FM bands, which shall be easily accessible from the FCC home page, identifying each licensed station and all entities that have received a Notice of Unlicensed Operation, Notice of Apparent Liability, or Forfeiture Order by the FCC.

What's happening now July 24, 2018

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

Bill text 4 versions