Legis Daily

PIRATE Act

USA116th CongressS-1228| Senate 
| Updated: 1/9/2020
Steve Daines

Steve Daines

Republican Senator

Montana

Cosponsors (1)
Gary C. Peters (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act or the PIRATE Act This bill addresses unlicensed radio broadcasting (called pirating), including by increasing to $2 million the maximum fine for a pirate radio broadcasting violation and imposing a fine of up to $100,000 per day for pirating violations subject to the $2 million limit. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must (1) annually submit to Congress a report summarizing implementation of this bill and associated enforcement activities for the previous fiscal year; and (2) at least once a year, assign appropriate enforcement personnel to focus specific and sustained attention on the elimination of pirate radio broadcasting within the top five radio markets. The FCC may not preempt any state or local law prohibiting pirate radio broadcasting. The FCC shall (1) revise its rules to require that, absent good cause, in any case alleging a violation, it shall proceed directly to issue a Notice of Apparent Liability without first issuing a Notice of Unlicensed Operations; and (2) publish a database of all licensed radio stations operating in the AM and FM band that includes each licensed station and all entities that have received a Notice of Unlicensed Operation, Notice of Apparent Liability, or Forfeiture Order from the FCC.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

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Timeline
Apr 29, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Apr 29, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
May 15, 2019
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Dec 17, 2019
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker without amendment. With written report No. 116-178.
Dec 17, 2019
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 374.
Jan 8, 2020
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S81; text: CR S81)
Jan 8, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S81; text: CR S81)
Jan 9, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jan 9, 2020
Received in the House.
Jan 9, 2020
Held at the desk.
Jan 24, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-583
Signed by President.
  • April 29, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 29, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • May 15, 2019
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • December 17, 2019
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker without amendment. With written report No. 116-178.


  • December 17, 2019
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 374.


  • January 8, 2020
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S81; text: CR S81)


  • January 8, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S81; text: CR S81)


  • January 9, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • January 9, 2020
    Received in the House.


  • January 9, 2020
    Held at the desk.


  • January 24, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-583
    Signed by President.

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 116-583: PIRATE Act
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresBroadcasting, cable, digital technologiesCongressional oversightCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Government information and archivesLicensing and registrations

PIRATE Act

USA116th CongressS-1228| Senate 
| Updated: 1/9/2020
Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act or the PIRATE Act This bill addresses unlicensed radio broadcasting (called pirating), including by increasing to $2 million the maximum fine for a pirate radio broadcasting violation and imposing a fine of up to $100,000 per day for pirating violations subject to the $2 million limit. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must (1) annually submit to Congress a report summarizing implementation of this bill and associated enforcement activities for the previous fiscal year; and (2) at least once a year, assign appropriate enforcement personnel to focus specific and sustained attention on the elimination of pirate radio broadcasting within the top five radio markets. The FCC may not preempt any state or local law prohibiting pirate radio broadcasting. The FCC shall (1) revise its rules to require that, absent good cause, in any case alleging a violation, it shall proceed directly to issue a Notice of Apparent Liability without first issuing a Notice of Unlicensed Operations; and (2) publish a database of all licensed radio stations operating in the AM and FM band that includes each licensed station and all entities that have received a Notice of Unlicensed Operation, Notice of Apparent Liability, or Forfeiture Order from the FCC.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Apr 29, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Apr 29, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
May 15, 2019
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Dec 17, 2019
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker without amendment. With written report No. 116-178.
Dec 17, 2019
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 374.
Jan 8, 2020
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S81; text: CR S81)
Jan 8, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S81; text: CR S81)
Jan 9, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jan 9, 2020
Received in the House.
Jan 9, 2020
Held at the desk.
Jan 24, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-583
Signed by President.
  • April 29, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 29, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • May 15, 2019
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • December 17, 2019
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker without amendment. With written report No. 116-178.


  • December 17, 2019
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 374.


  • January 8, 2020
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S81; text: CR S81)


  • January 8, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S81; text: CR S81)


  • January 9, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • January 9, 2020
    Received in the House.


  • January 9, 2020
    Held at the desk.


  • January 24, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-583
    Signed by President.
Steve Daines

Steve Daines

Republican Senator

Montana

Cosponsors (1)
Gary C. Peters (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 116-583: PIRATE Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresBroadcasting, cable, digital technologiesCongressional oversightCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Government information and archivesLicensing and registrations