Skip to main content
S 1228 116th Congress Senate 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: April 29, 2019 Introduced by: Daines, Steve Republican · Montana See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 9, 2020
Held at the desk.
Jan 9, 2020
Received in the House.
Jan 9, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jan 8, 2020
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S81; text: CR S81)
Jan 8, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S81; text: CR S81)
Dec 17, 2019
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 374.
Dec 17, 2019
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker without amendment. With written report No. 116-178.
May 15, 2019
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Apr 29, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Apr 29, 2019
Introduced in Senate
 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 to $2 million the maximum fine for a pirate radio broadcasting violation 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 Operations; 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 from the FCC.

What's happening now January 9, 2020

Held at the desk.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1