Senate Approves FCC Nominees
WASHINGTON, DC – Tonight the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the nominations of Deborah Taylor Tate and Michael Copps to be Commissioners on the Federal Communications Commission. On December 13, 2005, by unanimous consent, the Senate discharged the Senate Commerce Committee from further consideration of the Tate and Copps nominations. A hearing had been held on […]
Senate Approves Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act Title in Budget Reconciliation Conference Report
WASHINGTON, DC – Today the United States Senate voted 51-50 to approve the Budget Reconciliation conference report which includes the Digital Transition title. The conference report will now be returned to the House of Representatives for its consideration, as the Senate made technical changes unrelated to the Digital Television title. This title was negotiated by […]
House-Senate Conference Committee Approves Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act Title in Budget Reconciliation Bill
WASHINGTON, DC – A House-Senate Conference Committee yesterday approved the Budget Reconciliation conference report which includes the Digital Transition title. This title was negotiated by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which originally offered bills on the digital transition. The Senate version of the bill, the Digital […]
FCC Nominees Michael Copps and Deborah Taylor Tate Await Action by the Full Senate
Prior to adjournment today, by unanimous consent the Senate discharged the Senate Commerce Committee from futher consideration of the nominations of Deborah Taylor Tate and Michael Copps to be Commissioners at the Federal Communications Commission. Their nominations are currently on the Senate Calendar and await action by the full Senate.
Commerce Committee Announces Open Forum on Decency
Washington, D.C. – Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today announced that the Full Committee is planning to hold an "Open Forum on Decency" on November 29, 2005. A specific time and location will be announced at a later time. Representatives from wide variety of groups, including cable, broadcasting, and other content industries, are […]
Chairman Stevens Speaks in Opposition to the McCain Amendment to Change the Digital Transition Hard Date
Washington, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today spoke in support of the Committee-approved Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 and in opposition to an amendment offered by Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) that would change the bill’s digital television transition date from April 7, 2009, to April […]
Senate Commerce Committee Approves “Prepackaged News Story Announcement Act”
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today reported by unanimous consent S. 967, the “Prepackaged News Story Announcement Act of 2005,” introduced by Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.). The legislation requires that all prepackaged, government-produced news stories – which are designed to be indistinguishable from those […]
Senate Commerce Committee Approves WARN Act
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today reported by unanimous consent S. 1753, the Warning, Alert, and Response Network (WARN) Act of 2005. During the Committee’s Executive Session, Members adopted a substitute amendment offered by Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) to replace the bill originally introduced by Disaster […]
Committee Passes Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act
Washington, DC – The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today passed unanimously by roll call vote S. 2056, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act. The Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act would, as introduced, increase tenfold the cap on fines the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) may assess on television and radio broadcast licensees for obscene, indecent, and […]
Committee Passes FCC Reauthorization Act
Washington, DC – The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today approved by voice vote, S. 1264, the Federal Communications Commission Reauthorization Act of 2003. Senators McCain (R-AZ) and Hollings (D-SC) introduced the legislation on June 13, 2003. This legislation is designed to reauthorize the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This independent agency has not been […]