Legislation

H.R. 7000 Universal Roaming Act of 2008

On September 23, 2008, House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) introduced legislation to require telecom recipients of rural universal service funds to provide automatic roaming on just and reasonable terms to wireless carriers, adding a new dynamic to a raucous roaming debate that until now has played out almost exclusively at the Federal Communications Commission.

H.R. 7013 Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act (SAFER)

On September 23, 2008, Rep Lois Capps (D-CA) introduced the Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act (SAFER), a bill to allow for the short-term continued analog broadcast of essential information after the February 18, 2009 nationwide transition to digital television (DTV), including broadcasts of emergency information.

H.J. RES. 79 Disapproving the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission with respect to broadcast media ownership

On March 13, 2008, Rep Jay Inslee (D-WA) introduced a "resolution of disapproval" of the FCC's new media ownership rules adopted in Dec 2007.

S.J.RES.28 A joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission with respect to broadcast

S.J.RES.28

A joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission with respect to broadcast media ownership.

H.R. 5353 The Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2008

Rep Ed Markey (D-MA), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunication and the Internet, introduced H.R. 5353, the Internet Freedom Preservation Act, a bill aimed at ensuring the historic, open architecture nature of the Internet will be preserved and fostered for the consumers, content providers and high tech innovators of the future.

HR 4882 Broadcast Licensing in the Public Interest Act

Representative Anna G. Eshoo (D-California 14th) introduced the Broadcast Licensing in the Public Interest Act. The bill would strengthen public interest obligations on broadcasters.

H.R. 4835 Media Ownership Act

Reps Reichert and Inslee (D-WA) introduced the Media Ownership Act, legislation that will counter the damaging rule handed down by the Federal Communications Commission to allow consolidation of media ownership. The legislation would prevent the FCC's hurried rule from becoming law by requiring more time for public comment and changing the timeframe for proposed revisions to be published. It would also go into effect retroactively, back to October 1, 2007.

S. 2332 Media Ownership Act of 2007

On November 8, 2007, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) announced plans to introduce legislation that would halt the Federal Communications Commission's rush to gut longstanding media ownership rules.

S. 2125 Preparing America’s Seniors for the Digital Television Transition Act of 2007

On October 2, 2007, Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Herb Kohl (D-WI) introduced the Preparing America’s Seniors for the Digital Television Transition Act of 2007.

S. 1853 Community Broadband Act of 2007

A measure to promote economic development, enhance public safety, and increase educational opportunities by removing barriers that prevent cities and towns from offering broadband services to their residents.