[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1600 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1600
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure full access to
digital television in areas served by low-power television, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 29, 2005
Ms. Snowe (for herself and Mr. Hatch) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure full access to
digital television in areas served by low-power television, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
TITLE I--LOW-POWER TELEVISION
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Digital Translator and Low-Power
Television Transition Assistance Act''.
SEC. 102. DEADLINE FOR CONVERSION OF TRANSLATOR STATIONS AND LOW-POWER
ANALOG TELEVISION STATIONS.
(a) Digital Transition Period.--Section 336(f)(4) of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 336(f)(4)) is amended by striking
``such transition period.'' in the last sentence and inserting ``4
years after the date beyond which a television broadcast license may
not be renewed under section 309(j)(14) of this Act.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 337(e)(1) of the Communications
Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 337(e)(1)) is amended by striking ``on which the
digital television service transition period terminates, as determined
by the Commission.'' and inserting ``that is 4 years after the date
beyond which a television broadcast license may not be renewed under
section 309(j)(14) of this Act.''.
SEC. 103. LOW-POWER DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION.
(a) Trust Fund.--There is established on the books of the Treasury
a separate fund to be known as the ``Low-power Digital Television
Transition Trust Fund'', which shall be administered by the Assistant
Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.
(b) Source of Funds.--Paragraph (8) of section 309(j) of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``or subparagraph (D)'' in subparagraph
(A) after ``subparagraph (B)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(D) Disposition of proceeds from auction of
channels 52 through 69.--So much of the proceeds
attributable to the auction of any eligible frequencies
on the electromagnetic spectrum conducted after the
date of enactment of the Low-Power Digital Television
Transition Assistance Act as does not exceed
$100,000,000, after the retention of revenues provided
for in subparagraph (B), shall be deposited in the Low-
power Digital Television Transition Trust Fund.''.
(c) Grant Program.--
(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
Communications and Information shall establish a program under
which grants may be made by the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration to eligible licensees of qualifying
low-power television stations under section 336 of the
Communications Act of 1934, State and local governments, and
community organizations for the purpose of--
(A) upgrading low-power television translator
stations from analog to digital in eligible rural
communities (as defined in section 601(b)(2) of the
Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C.
950bb(b)(2)) and other areas served by low-power
television broadcast stations; and
(B) extending digital television broadcast signals
to unserved households (as defined section 119(d)(10)
of title 17, United States Code) located in such
eligible rural communities and other areas.
(2) Applications and conditions.--In conducting the
program, the Assistant Secretary--
(A) shall establish a notification and application
procedure;
(B) may establish such conditions, and require such
assurances, as may be appropriate to ensure the
efficiency and integrity of the grant program; and
(C) may make grants under the program on a matching
or nonmatching basis.
(3) Eligible licensees.--In this subsection, the term
``eligible licensee'' means the licensee or permittee of a low-
power television station licensee or low-power television
translator station as such terms as used in sections 336 and
337 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 336 and 337)).
(4) Reversion of unused funds.--Any unobligated amounts in
the Low-power Digital Television Transition Fund remaining
after the date on which the low-power digital television
service transition period (as defined in section 336(i)(3) of
the Communications Act of 1934) shall revert to and be
deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.
SEC. 104. FCC STATUS REPORT ON LOW-POWER TELEVISION AND TELEVISION
TRANSLATOR STATIONS.
Within 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Federal Communications Commission shall transmit to the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of
Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce and report and
recommendations on the status of low-power television stations and low-
power television translator stations.
TITLE II--INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION
SEC. 201. INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION STUDY.
Beginning February 1, 2006, and ending when international
coordination with Canada and Mexico of the DTV table of allotments is
complete, the Federal Communications Commission shall submit reports
every 6 months on the status of that international coordination to the
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House
of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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