H.R. 3685 – Reading Mode

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3685

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 6, 2017

Mr. Flores (for himself and Mr. Gene Green of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To establish an additional fund in the Treasury to reimburse costs incurred by terrestrial radio stations as a result of the reorganization of broadcast television spectrum, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Radio Consumer Protection Act of 2017.

Radio Consumer Protection Fund

(a)

Establishment

There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the Radio Consumer Protection Fund.

(b)

Authorization of Appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Radio Consumer Protection Fund such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the Radio Consumer Protection Fund.

(c)

Purposes; availability of funds

Amounts in the Radio Consumer Protection Fund shall be available to the Commission to make any payments to a broadcast radio station for costs that the station incurred resulting from the reorganization of broadcast television spectrum authorized under section 6403(b) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1452(b)).

(d)

Limitation

Amounts made available to the Commission under subsection (c) shall be available until the end of fiscal year 2022.

(e)

Unused funds returned to the general fund of the treasury

If any amounts remain in the Radio Consumer Protection Fund after the end of fiscal year 2022, the Secretary shall transfer such amounts to the general fund of the Treasury.

Expedited consideration of applications

The Commission shall expedite consideration and approval of applications from licensees of broadcast radio stations seeking to obtain special temporary authority to continue broadcasting during the reorganization of broadcast television spectrum authorized under section 6403(b) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1452(b)).

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Broadcast radio station

The term broadcast radio station means any entity that is licensed by the Commission as an AM, FM, noncommercial educational FM, or FM Translator radio broadcast station under the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.).

(2)

Commission

The term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission.

(3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Treasury.