PIRATE Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 583) to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for enhanced penalties for pirate radio, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 583, the Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act, or PIRATE Act, a bill sponsored by myself and Mr. Bilirakis. This measure is a bipartisan, commonsense bill that passed the House last Congress.

Mr. Speaker, first, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has worked on this measure. I thank Representative Bilirakis for agreeing to lead this effort with me in this Congress. I thank our former colleague, Congressman Leonard Lance, for all his work on this bill in the past. And I thank the New York State broadcasters for their dedication.

For years, I, along with many Members of the New York and New Jersey delegations, have voiced our concern that pirate radio operators are a threat to Americans' public health and safety. Yet these lawbreakers are as prevalent as ever, and their actions have been met with few consequences. This legislation responds directly to that threat.

The FCC has taken some positive steps to remedy this issue, but more needs to be done.

In short, the PIRATE Act would increase penalties and restrictions on pirate radio.

Whether a radio frequency is being used by first responders coordinating to save lives, or parents who want to keep obscenity and bigotry away from their children, for example, our communities are better served when broadcasters respect the rule of law.

Previous drafts of the PIRATE Act included provisions creating liability for those who facilitate illegal pirate radio operation. These provisions were removed as being duplicative with existing law. For example, under current law, the FCC can hold a property owner liable for allowing a pirate radio operator access or other assistance.

Cutting these provisions should not be taken as limiting the Commission's authority to assess fines against those who assist illegal pirate operations. On the contrary, the consequences established in this act would also apply in these contexts.

The text of the bill before us today includes changes that were requested in the Senate last Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support for H.R. 583 from the 50 State broadcast associations.

January 18, 2019.

50 State Broadcasters Associations Urge Passage of the

Bipartisan PIRATE Act

Hon. Nancy Pelosi,

Speaker, House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Mitch McConnell,

Majority Leader, U.S. Senate,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Kevin McCarthy,

Minority Leader, House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Charles Schumer,

Minority Leader, U.S. Senate,

Washington, DC.

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leaders McCarthy, McConnell and

Schumer: The undersigned broadcasters associations

representing local, over-the-air broadcast stations in all 50

States, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of

Puerto Rico urge your swift consideration and passage of the

Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement (PIRATE)

Act (H.R. 583). The PIRATE Act would provide the Federal

Communications Commission (FCC) with critical new enforcement

measures to combat pirate radio operations. Last Congress,

substantially similar bipartisan legislation (H.R. 5709,

115th) passed the House of Representatives unanimously.

For years unauthorized pirate radio stations have harmed

communities across the country by undermining the Emergency

Alert System, interfering with airport communications, posing

direct health risks and interfering with licensed stations'

abilities to serve their listeners. The time has come to take

significant steps to resolve this vexing problem.

The PIRATE Act gives the FCC additional tools to address

the growing pirate radio problem. It provides the authority

to levy increased fines up to $100,000 per violation and

$2,000,000 in total. The PIRATE Act streamlines the

enforcement process and requires the FCC to conduct pirate

radio enforcement sweeps in cities with a concentration of

pirate radio stations. It recognizes the importance of FCC

coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement

authorities. Finally, the PIRATE Act would create a database

of all licensed radio stations operating in the AM and FM

bands as well as those entities that have been subject to

enforcement actions for illegal operation.

We are reaching the point where illegal pirate stations

undermine the legitimacy and purpose of the FCC's licensing

system to the detriment of listeners in communities across

the country. The PIRATE Act will help the FCC restore

integrity to the system. For these reasons, local

broadcasters across our great nation fully support the

bipartisan PIRATE Act and urge its swift passage without

changes.

Respectfully,

Sharon Tinsley, Alabama Broadcasters Association; Cathy

Hiebert, Alaska Broadcasters Association; Christopher Kline,

Arizona Broadcasters Association; Luke Story, Arkansas

Broadcasters Association; Joe Berry, California Broadcasters

Association; Justin Sasso, Colorado Broadcasters Association;

Michael Patrick Ryan, Connecticut Broadcasters Association;

C. Patrick Roberts, Florida Association of Broadcasters; Bob

Houghton, Georgia Association of Broadcasters; Jamie

Hartnett, Hawaii Association of Broadcasters; Connie Searles,

Idaho State Broadcasters Association; Dennis Lyle, Illinois

Broadcasters Association.

Dave Arland, Indiana Broadcasters Association; Sue Toma,

Iowa Broadcasters Association; Kent Cornish, Kansas

Association of Broadcasters; Chris Winkle, Kentucky

Broadcasters Association; Polly Prince Johnson, Louisiana

Association of Broadcasters; Suzanne Goucher, Maine

Association of Broadcasters; Lisa Reynolds, Maryland/D.C./

Delaware (MDCD) Broadcasters Association; Jordan Walton,

Massachusetts Broadcasters Association; Karole L. White,

Michigan Association of Broadcasters; Wendy Paulson,

Minnesota Broadcasters Association; Margaret Perkins,

Mississippi Association of Broadcasters; Mark Gordon,

Missouri Broadcasters Association.

Dewey Bruce, Montana Broadcasters Association; Jim Timm,

Nebraska Broadcasters Association; Mitch Fox, Nevada

Broadcasters Association; Tracy Caruso, New Hampshire

Association of Broadcasters; Paul Rotella, New Jersey

Broadcasters Association; Paula Maes, New Mexico Broadcasters

Association; David Donovan, New York State Broadcasters

Association; Lisa Reynolds, North Carolina Association of

Broadcasters; Beth Helfrich, North Dakota Broadcasters

Association; Christine Merritt, Ohio Association of

Broadcasters; Vance Harrison, Oklahoma Association of

Broadcasters; John Tamerlano, Oregon Association of

Broadcasters.

Joe Conti, Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters; Jose

A. Ribas Dominicci, Radio Broadcasters Association of Puerto

Rico; Lori Needham, Rhode Island Broadcasters Association;

Margaret Wallace, South Carolina Broadcasters Association;

Steve Willard, South Dakota Broadcasters Association; Whit

Adamson, Tennessee Association of Broadcasters; Oscar

Rodriguez, Texas Association of Broadcasters; Michele

Zabriskie, Utah Broadcasters Association; Wendy Mays, Vermont

Association of Broadcasters; Doug Easter, Virginia

Association of Broadcasters; Keith Shipman, Washington State

Association of Broadcasters; Michele Crist, West Virginia

Broadcasters Association; Michelle Vetterkind, Wisconsin

Broadcasters Association; Laura Grott, Wyoming Association of

Broadcasters.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 583 is a bipartisan, commonsense advance in the laws that support our first responders and protect our communities. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation so it can be taken up in the Senate and signed into law.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further Members who choose to speak. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, to close, I believe that this measure, H.R. 583, moves us forward in a way that better protects public health and safety. It has the endorsement of many in the field, including 50 State broadcast associations.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage our colleagues to support H.R. 583, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 583, the Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement (PIRATE) Act, introduced by Reps. Paul Tonko and Gus Bilirakis. I want to thank Rep. Chris Collins of New York and former Rep. Leonard Lance of New Jersey for leading on this last Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I've been around radio for most of my life. From working as a teenage janitor at my dad's radio station to spending more than 20 years as a radio station owner myself; in fact, I'm still a licensed amateur radio operator today. But you don't need that much experience to understand that protecting our public airwaves from illegal pirate radio interference is important for consumers and broadcasters alike.

The PIRATE Act gives the FCC additional tools to address the growing pirate radio problem and increases the penalties for bad actors. These illegal broadcasts deprive Americans of important programming provided by legitimate broadcast license-holders serving the public interest. And they can disrupt important public safety communications, including our nation's Emergency Alert System and critical aviation frequencies. In many cases, these pirate radio stations broadcast vile and vulgar content, which also harms consumers. By preventing illegal pirate radio operations, consumers are protected, and airwaves are kept free for legitimate broadcasts and public safety announcements.

Last Congress, this House passed the PIRATE Act by voice vote. I'd like to thank our former colleague Leonard Lance, who first authored this legislation last Congress, and my colleagues Mr. Tonko and Mr. Bilirakis for bringing this important bill to strengthen our public safety communications back to the House floor today. I urge its quick passage.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of H.R. 583, the Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act, the PIRATE Act, introduced by my friends Mr. Tonko and Mr. Bilirakis.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Tonko and Mr. Bilirakis for their bipartisan efforts to combat illegal pirate radio operations.

This bill gives the Federal Communications Commission, along with State and local law enforcement, more tools to go after pirate radio operators. Without the ability to effectively go after illegal transmitters, the FCC and other entities cannot protect the over 240 million Americans who rely on radio broadcasting for vital news and entertainment.

Furthermore, stopping bad actors from pirating our airwaves improves public safety by preventing unlawful broadcasts from interfering with first responders' lifesaving communications and public safety officials' transmission of critical information in an emergency.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the PIRATE Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Mr. Speaker, again, for all the reasons that I have stated here today on the PIRATE Act, I believe that this bill is essential to pass today, and I ask the House to pass H.R. 583.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 583, the PIRATE Act, led by Chairman Tonko and Representative Bilirakis.

The bipartisan bill takes an important step to protect the vital public safety announcements, news, and educational benefits local broadcasters serve to their communities.

When illegal pirate radio operators interfere with important public safety communications, it can be detrimental to the public. These illegal pirate operators also interfere with critical aviation frequencies, potentially putting lives at risk.

Legitimate, licensed broadcasters who provide the foundation of our Nation's Emergency Alert System must be protected from this type of harmful interference.

H.R. 583 would give the FCC stronger tools to continue their enforcement sweeps and fine violators in order to better protect Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for their leadership on this bipartisan legislation, and I urge its passage today.