Skip to main content
HR 583 116th 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: January 16, 2019 Introduced by: Tonko, Paul Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
 Everywhere this bill has been 17 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 24, 2020
Became Public Law No: 116-109.
Jan 24, 2020
Signed by President.
Jan 14, 2020
Presented to President.
Jan 9, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jan 8, 2020
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S84)
Jan 8, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S84)
Jan 8, 2020
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Feb 26, 2019
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Feb 25, 2019
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Feb 25, 2019
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2050)
Feb 25, 2019
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2050)
Feb 25, 2019
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 583.
Feb 25, 2019
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2050-2052)
Feb 25, 2019
Mr. Tonko moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Jan 25, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Jan 16, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jan 16, 2019
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act or the PIRATE Act

This bill addresses unlicensed radio broadcasting (called pirating), including by increasing the maximum fine for a pirate radio broadcasting violation to $2 million and imposing a fine of up to $100,000 per day for pirating violations subject to the $2 million limit.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must (1) annually submit to Congress a report 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 Operation; and (2) publish a database of all licensed radio stations operating in the AM and FM band that includes each licensed station and all entities that have received a Notice of Unlicensed Operation, Notice of Apparent Liability, or Forfeiture Order issued by the FCC.

What's happening now January 24, 2020

Became Public Law No: 116-109.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 1 Republican 1