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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 1977 (99th)

Broadcast Licensing, Renewal, and Deregulation Act of 1985

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

3 April 1985

Last action

4 April 1985 · Referred

Status

Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Consumer Protection and Finance.

Sponsors

Rep. Tauke, Thomas Joseph [R-IA-2], Rep. Tauzin, W. J. (Billy) [R-LA-3], Rep. Richardson, Bill [D-NM-3], Sen. Coats, Daniel [R-IN], Rep. Bliley, Tom [R-VA-7], Rep. Broyhill, James T. [R-NC-10], Rep. Oxley, Michael G. [R-OH-4], Rep. Nielson, Howard C. [R-UT-3], Rep. Rinaldo, Matthew J. [R-NJ-7], Rep. Ritter, Don [R-PA-15], Rep. Moorhead, Carlos J. [R-CA-22], Rep. Schaefer, Dan [R-CO-6], Rep. Whittaker, Bob [R-KS-5], Rep. Hall, Ralph M. [R-TX-4], Sen. Shelby, Richard C. [R-AL], Rep. Luken, Thomas A. [D-OH-1], Rep. Madigan, Edward R. [R-IL-15], Rep. Fields, Jack [R-TX-8], Rep. Eckert, Fred J. [R-NY-30], Rep. Dannemeyer, William E. [R-CA-39], Rep. Slattery, Jim [D-KS-2], Rep. Bilirakis, Michael [R-FL-9], Rep. Vander Jagt, Guy [R-MI-9], Rep. Hefner, W. G. (Bill) [D-NC-8], Rep. Quillen, James H. (Jimmy) [R-TN-1], Rep. Jones, Walter B. [D-NC-1], Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large], Rep. Franklin, William W. [R-MS-2], Rep. Fuqua, Don [D-FL-2], Rep. Penny, Timothy J. [D-MN-1], Rep. Kindness, Thomas N. [R-OH-8], Rep. Vucanovich, Barbara F. [R-NV-2], Rep. Cheney, Dick [R-WY-At Large], Rep. Natcher, William H. [D-KY-2], Rep. Hatcher, Charles [D-GA-2], Rep. Bedell, Berkley W. [D-IA-6], Rep. Regula, Ralph [R-OH-16], Rep. Montgomery, G. V. (Sonny) [D-MS-3], Rep. Bevill, Tom [D-AL-4], Rep. McKernan, John R., Jr. [R-ME-1], Rep. Rogers, Harold [R-KY-5], Rep. Livingston, Bob [R-LA-1], Rep. Pursell, Carl D. [R-MI-2], Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5], Rep. Dowdy, Wayne [D-MS-4], Rep. Evans, Cooper [R-IA-3], Rep. Young, C. W. Bill [R-FL-13], Rep. Tallon, Robert M. (Robin) [D-SC-6]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

29 August 2025

Official sourceView documentsShare

Summary

Broadcast Licensing, Renewal, and Deregulation Act of 1985 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to establish new procedures for reviewing petitions to deny broadcast license applications. Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to grant a license renewal application by a radio or television broadcast station licensee unless the actions of the licensee evidence such serious disregard for the Communications Act and for the rules and policies of the FCC that denial of the application is justified. Prohibits the FCC from considering the applications of other persons for a broadcast station's facilities when the FCC is acting upon a license renewal application by a radio or television broadcast station. Permits persons holding construction permits or station licenses to transfer the permit or license without first obtaining an FCC finding that the transfer serves the public interest. Requires the FCC to be notified of such transfer. Provides for public notice of the transfer. Provides for disposition by the FCC of objections to such transfer. Prohibits the FCC from considering whether the public interest would be served by the transfer. Repeals certain provisions relating to the application of the antitrust laws to broadcast licensees. Prohibits the FCC from imposing requirements on radio or television licensees relating to: (1) types of programs; (2) programming formats; (3) ascertainment of the needs or interests of their service areas; (4) commercials; and (5) maintenance of program logs.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 3 April 1985

    Introduced

    Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 3 April 1985

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 3 April 1985

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 4 April 1985

    Referred

    Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Consumer Protection and Finance.

    Source: Committee

Votes

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Versions

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Documents

1 official file

Leesvertaling

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Sponsors

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Related records

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Sources

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