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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 4324 (98th)

A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to preserve the principles of the Federal Communications Commission's personal attack and political editorial rules through the 1984 election campaign, and for other purposes.

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

8 November 1983

Last action

14 November 1983 · Referred

Status

Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Consumer Protection and Finance.

Sponsors

Rep. Swift, Al [D-WA-2], Rep. Dingell, John D. [D-MI-12], Rep. Frenzel, Bill [R-MN-3], Sen. Wirth, Timothy [D-CO], Rep. Rinaldo, Matthew J. [R-NJ-7], Rep. Thomas, William M. [R-CA-21], Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-13], Rep. Kindness, Thomas N. [R-OH-8], Rep. Morrison, Sid [R-WA-4], Rep. Boland, Edward P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Wylie, Chalmers P. [R-OH-15], Rep. Forsythe, Edwin B. [R-NJ-6], Rep. Lantos, Tom [D-CA-12], Rep. Leland, Mickey [D-TX-18], Rep. Daub, Hal [R-NE-2], Rep. Levine, Mel [D-CA-27], Rep. Fish, Hamilton, Jr. [R-NY-19], Rep. Roe, Robert A. [D-NJ-8], Rescom. Corrada, Baltasar [I-PR-At Large], Rep. Richardson, Bill [D-NM-3], Rep. Albosta, Donald J. [D-MI-10], Rep. AuCoin, Les [D-OR-1], Rep. Bates, Jim [D-CA-44], Rep. Eckart, Dennis E. [D-OH-11], Rep. Harrison, Frank [D-PA-11], Rep. Hughes, William J. [D-NJ-2], Rep. McGrath, Raymond J. [R-NY-5], Rep. Patman, William N. [D-TX-14], Rep. Wolpe, Howard E. [D-MI-3], Rep. McNulty, James F., Jr. [D-AZ-5], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Rep. Ackerman, Gary L. [D-NY-5], Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28], Rep. Beilenson, Anthony C. [D-CA-24], Rep. Boggs, Corinne C. (Lindy) [D-LA-2], Rep. Brown, George E., Jr. [D-CA-42], Rep. Bryant, John W. [D-TX-5], Rep. Chandler, Rod D. [R-WA-8], Rep. Coelho, Anthony Lee [D-CA-15], Rep. Coleman, Ronald D. [D-TX-16], Rep. Coyne, William J. [D-PA-14], Sen. Daschle, Thomas A. [D-SD], Rep. Dixon, Julian C. [D-CA-32], Rep. Ferraro, Geraldine A. [D-NY-9], Rep. Foley, Thomas S. [D-WA-5], Sen. Fowler, Wyche, Jr. [D-GA], Rep. Frost, Martin [D-TX-24], Sen. Gore, Albert, Jr. [D-TN]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

5 February 2024

Official sourceView documentsShare

Summary

Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require a broadcast licensee to provide any person whose personal qualities are attacked during the presentation of views in a broadcast on a controversial issue of public importance with: (1) notification of the time, date, and identification of the broadcast; (2) a script or tape of the attack; and (3) an offer of a reasonable opportunity to respond over the licensee's facilities. Excludes from such requirement any attack: (1) on a foreign group or foreign public figure; (2) made by a legally qualified candidate for public office during the use of a broadcast station; (3) made by such a candidate on another such candidate; or (4) made on a bona fide news show. Requires any licensee which endorses or opposes any candidate in an editorial to transmit to the opposing candidates (in the case of an endorsing editorial) or to the candidate (in the case of an opposing editorial): (1) notification of the date and time of the editorial; (2) a script or tape of the editorial; and (3) an offer of a reasonable opportunity to respond over the licensee's facilities. Terminates the application of this Act on December 31, 1984. Suspends the personal attack rule and the political editorial rule of the Federal Communications Commission until after such date. Prohibits the Commission from repealing or modifying such rules after October 31, 1983, and before January 1, 1985. Voids any such action taken by the Commission after October 31, 1983, and before enactment of this Act. Allows the Commission to repeal or modify such rules beginning on January 1, 1985, provided that no repeal or modification shall become effective until 120 days of continuous session of Congress after it is published as final.

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

Timeline

  1. 8 November 1983

    Introduced

    Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 8 November 1983

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 8 November 1983

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 14 November 1983

    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

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Sponsors

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Related records

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Sources

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