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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 501 (109th)

Fairness and Accountability in Broadcasting Act

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

1 February 2005

Last action

25 February 2005 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.

Sponsors

Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-25], Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12], Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Filner, Bob [D-CA-51], Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-15], Rep. Owens, Major R. [D-NY-11], Rep. Watson, Diane E. [D-CA-33], Rep. Kucinich, Dennis J. [D-OH-10], Rep. Hinchey, Maurice D. [D-NY-22], Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7], Rep. Woolsey, Lynn C. [D-CA-6], Rep. Miller, George [D-CA-11], Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-9], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12], Rep. Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO-1], Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10], Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

15 August 2025

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Fairness and Accountability in Broadcasting Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from issuing or renewing any license for a broadcasting station based upon a finding that the issuance or renewal serves the public interest, convenience, and necessity unless such station: (1) covers issues of importance to the local community in a fair manner, taking into account diverse interests and viewpoints of the local community; (2) holds two public hearings each year in the local community to ascertain the needs and interests of the local communities that they serve; and (3) documents and reports in writing, on a biannual basis to the FCC, the programming that is broadcast to cover the issues of public importance as ascertained through the hearings process, and how such coverage reflects the diverse interests and viewpoints in the local community. Allows any interested person to file a petition with the FCC to deny a license renewal for a broadcast station's failure to follow the above requirements. Reduces from eight to four years the term of a broadcast license.

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

Timeline

  1. 1 February 2005

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 1 February 2005

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 1 February 2005

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 25 February 2005

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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Leesvertaling

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 1 February 2005

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 1 February 2005

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 1 February 2005

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Sponsors

Related records

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Sources

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