This is a collection of legislative histories of Communications Law as amended through 1996. It starts with the Radio Act of 1912, and includes the Communications Act of 1934, the Communications Satellite Act of 1962 and the legislative history documents of various other relevant laws. These histories were compiled by the librarians of the Federal Communications Commission. We welcome any suggestions for improvement and correction.
To find all the compiled documents related to a specific law, click on the number of the law. This will open a page containing the legislative components of each law’s enactment.
Congress
Public Law |
Approval
Date |
Bill No. |
Bill Name |
|
| 104-104 |
2/08/1996 |
S. 652 |
Telecommunications Act of 1996 |
|
| 103-465 |
12/08/1994 |
H.R. 5110 |
Uruguay Round Agreements Act |
|
| 103-414 |
10/25/1994 |
H.R. 4922 |
Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act |
|
| 103-121 |
10/27/1993 |
H.R. 2519 |
Making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and State, the Judiciary, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1994, and for other purposes.
|
|
| 103-66 |
08/10/1993 |
H.R. 2264 |
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 |
|
| 102-556 |
10/28/1992 |
H.R. 6191 |
Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act-To protect the public interest and the future development of pay-per-call technology by providing for the regulations and oversight of the applications and growth of the pay-per-call industry and for other purposes
|
|
| 102-538 |
10/27/1992 |
H.R.6180 |
Telecommunications Authorizations Act of 1992 |
|
| 102-385 |
5/12/1992 |
S. 12 |
Cable Television Consumer Protection Act of 1992 |
|
| 102-356 |
8/26/1992 |
H.R. 2977 |
To authorize appropriations for public broadcasting, and for other purposes |
|
| 102-243 |
12/20/1991 |
S.1462 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit certain practices involving the use of telephone equipment for advertising and solicitation purposes |
|
| 101-555 |
11/15/1990 |
H.R.3310 |
To authorize appropriations for activities of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for fiscal years 1990 and 1991 |
|
| 101-435 |
10/17/1990 |
H.R.971 |
To require the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe rules to protect consumers from unfair practices in the provision of operator services, and for other purposes |
|
| 101-431 |
10/15/1990 |
S.1974 |
To require new televisions to have built in decoder circuitry-Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990 |
|
| 101-396 |
9/28/1990 |
H.R. 3265 |
An Act to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide autherization of appropriations for the Federal Communications Commission, and for other purposes |
|
| 101-336 |
7/26/1990 |
S. 933 |
Americans with Disability Act of 1990 |
|
| 101-239 |
12/19/1989 |
H.R. 3299 |
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 |
|
| 101-166 |
11/21/1989 |
H.R. 3566 |
Making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1990, and for other purposes |
|
| 100-690 |
11/18/1988 |
H.R. 5210 |
To provent the manufacturing, distribution, and use of illegal drugs, and for other purposes |
|
| 100-667 |
11/16/1988 |
S. 1883 |
Trademark Law revision Act of 1988 |
|
| 100-626 |
11/7/1988 |
H.R. 4118 |
Public Telecommunications Act of 1988 |
|
| 100-594 |
11/3/1988 |
S. 1048 |
Federal Communications Commission Authorization Act of 1987 |
|
| 100-394 |
8/16/1988 |
H.R. 2213 |
Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988 |
|
| 100-297 |
4/28/1988 |
H.R. 5 |
School Improvement Act of 1987 |
|
99-334 |
6/6/1986 |
S. 2179 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for reduction in the term of office of members of the Federal Communications Commission and for other purposes |
|
| 99-272 |
4/7/1986 |
H.R. 3128 |
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 |
|
| 98-620 |
11/8/1984 |
H.R. 6163 |
Trademark Clarification Act of 1984 |
|
| 98-549 |
10/30/1984 |
S. 66 |
Cable Communications Act of 1984 |
|
| 98-214 |
12/8/1983 |
H.R. 2755 |
Federal Communications Commission Authorization Act of 1983 |
|
| 97-410 |
1/3/1983 |
S. 2355 |
Telecommunications for the Disabled Act of 1982 |
|
| 97-259 |
9/13/1982 |
H.R. 3239 |
Communications Amendments Act of 1982 |
|
| 97-253 |
9/8/1982 |
H.R. 6955 |
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1982 |
|
| 97-248 |
9/3/1982 |
H.R. 4961 |
Tax equity and fiscal responsibility Act of 1982 |
|
| 97-130 |
12/29/1981 |
S. 271 |
Record Carrier Competition Act of 1981 |
|
| 97-35 |
8/13/1981 |
H.R. 3982 |
To provide for reconciliation pOmnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 |
|
| 96-507 |
12/8/1980 |
H.R. 4892 |
To repeal Section 506 of the Communicationsa Act of 1934 |
|
| 96-470 |
10/19/1980 |
H.R. 6686 |
Congressional Reports Elimination Act of 1980 |
|
| 96-590 |
6/24/1980 |
S. 3261 |
To amend section 222 of the Communications Act of 1934 in order to include Hawaii in the same category as other States for the purpose of such section |
|
| 95-567 |
11/2/1978 |
H.R. 12605 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to extend and improve the provisions of such Act relating to long-term financing for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and relating to certain grant programs for public telecommunications, and for other purposes |
|
| 95-234 |
2/21/1978 |
H.R. 7442 |
Communications Act Amendments of 1978 |
|
| 94-376 |
8/4/1976 |
S. 2054 |
To amend sections 203 and 204 of the Communications Act of 1934 |
|
| 94-335 |
7/1/1976 |
S. 2847 |
To amend section 318 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, to enable
the Federal Communications Commission to authorize translator broadcast
stations to originate limited amounts of local programing, and to authorize
frequency modulation (FM) radio translator stations to operate unattended
in the same manner as is now permitted for television broadcast translator
stations |
|
| 94-309 |
6/5/1976 |
H.R. 9630 |
To extend the Educational broadcasting Facilities Program and to provide authority for the support of demonstrations in telecommunications technologies for the distribution of health, education, and public or social service information, and for other purposes |
|
| 94-192 |
12/31/1975 |
H.R.6461 |
To amend certain provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 to provide long-term financing for the Corporation for Public Broadcast and for other purposes |
|
| 93-528 |
12/21/1974 |
S. 782 |
Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act |
|
| 93-507 |
11/30/1974 |
S.1227 |
To amend section 415 of the Communications Act of 1934,
as amended, to provide for a two-year period of limitations
in proceedings against carriers for the recovery of overcharges
or damages not based on overcharges. |
|
| 93-506 |
11/30/1974 |
S.1479 |
Te amend subsection (b) of section 214 and subsection (c) (1) of section 222 of
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, in order to designate the Secre-
'cary of Defense (rather than the Secretaries of the Army and the Navy) as
the person entitled to receive official notice of the filing of certain applications
in the common carrier service and to provide notice to the Secretary of State
where under section 214 applications involve service to foreign points |
|
| 93-505 |
11/30/1974 |
S.2457 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, to permit the Federal
Communications Commission to grant radio station licenses in the safety
and special and experimental radio services directly to aliens, representatives
of aliens, foreign corporations, or domestic corporations with alien officers,
directors, or stockholders; and to permit aliens holding such radio station
licenses to be licensed as operators. |
|
| 93-443 |
10/15/1974 |
S.3044 |
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide for public financing of primary and general election campaigns for Federal Elective office, and to amend certain other provisions of law relatin to the financing and conduct of such campaigns |
|
| 93-107 |
9/14/1973 |
S.1841 |
To amend the communications Act of 1934 for one year with respect to certain agreements relating to the broadcasting of home games of certain professional athletic teams |
|
| 93-84 |
8/6/1973 |
S.1090 |
To Amend the Communications Act of 1934, to extend certain authorizations for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and for certain construction grants for noncommercial educational television and radio broadcasting facilities, and for other purposes |
|
| 92-411 |
8/29/1972 |
S.3824 |
To authorize appropriations for the fiscal year 1973 for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and for making grants for construction of noncommecial educational television or radio broadcasting facilities |
|
| 92-225 |
2/7/1972 |
S.382 |
A bill to promote fair practices the conduct of election campaigns for Federal political offices, and for other purposes |
|
| 92-131 |
9/30/1971 |
H.R. 7048 |
Federal-State Communications Joint board Act |
|
| 92-81 |
8/10/1971 |
S.485 |
To Amend the Communications Act of 1934 to Provide that certain aliens admitted to the United States For Permanent Resident Shall be eligible to Operate Amateur Ratio Stations in the United State and to Hold Licenses for their Stations |
|
| 91-452 |
10/15/1970 |
S.30 |
The Organized Crime Control Act of 1970 |
|
| 91-437 |
10/7/1970 |
S.3558 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide continued financing for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting |
|
| 91-97 |
10/27/1969 |
S.1242 |
To Amend the communications Act of 1934 by extending the provisions thereof relating to grants for construction of educational television or radio broadcasting facilities and provisions relating to support of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting |
|
| 90-379 |
7/5/1968 |
H.R. 14910 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934, as amended , to give the Federal Communications Commission authority to prescribe regulations for the manufacture, import, sale, shipment, or use of devices which cause harmful interference to radio reception |
|
| 90-351 |
6/19/1968 |
H.R. 5037 |
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 |
|
| 90-299 |
5/3/1968 |
S.375 |
To Amend the Communications Act of 1934 with respect to obscene or harassing telephone calls in interstate or foreign commerce |
|
| 90-294 |
4/26/1968 |
S.3135 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 by extending the authorization of appropriations for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting |
|
| 90-129 |
11/7/1967 |
S. 1160 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1034 by extending and improving the
provisions thereof relating to grants for construction of educational television
broadcasting facilities, by authorizing assistance in the construction
of noncolmmercial educational radio broadcasting facilities, by establishing
a nonprofit corporation to assist in establishing innovative educational
programs, to facilitate educational program availability, and to aid the
operation of educational broadcasting facilities; and to authorize a comprehensive
study of instructional television and radio; and for other purposes |
|
| 89-268 |
10/19/1965 |
S. 903 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to painting, illumination, and dismantlement of radio towers |
|
| 89-121 |
8/13/1965 |
H.R. 7954 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to Conform to the Convention for the Safety of Life at sea, Landon |
|
| 88-487 |
8/22/1964 |
H.R. 3198 |
To promote the economic and social development of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and for other purposes |
|
| 88-313 |
5/28/1964 |
S. 920 |
To amend sections 303 and 310 of the Communications Act of 1934 |
|
88-307 |
5/14/1964 |
S. 1005 |
To amend paragraph (2) (G) of Subsection 309 ( C ) of the Communications Act of 1934 |
|
88-306 |
5/14/1964 |
S. 1193 |
To amend section 309 (e) of the Communications Act of 1934 |
|
| 87-811 |
10/15/1962 |
S. 1288 |
To amend section 362 (b) of the Communications Act of 1934 |
|
| 87-795 |
10/11/1962 |
H.R.11732 |
To amend section 305 of the Communications Act of 1934 |
|
| 87-529 |
7/10/1962 |
H.R. 8031 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 |
|
| 87-448 |
5/11/1962 |
S. 1668 |
To authorize the imposition of a forfeitures for certain violations of the rules and regulations of the FCC in the common carrier and safety and special fields |
|
| 87-447 |
5/1/1962 |
S. 205 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 |
|
| 87-445 |
4/27/1962 |
S. 1589 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 |
|
| 87-444 |
4/27/1962 |
S. 683 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 |
|
| 87-439 |
4/27/1962 |
S. 1371 |
To amend subsection (e) of section 307 of the Communications Act of 1934 |
|
| 87-192 |
8/31/1961 |
S. 2034 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 |
|
| 86-752 |
9/13/1960 |
S. 1898 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 |
|
| 86-751 |
9/13/1960 |
S. 1740 |
To amend section 202 (b) the Communications Act of 1934 |
|
| 86-677 |
8/24/1960 |
S.J.Res. 207 |
To suspend for the 1960 campaign the equal opportunity requirements of section 315 of the Communications Act of 1934 for nominees for the office of President and Vice President |
|
| 86-624 |
7/12/1960 |
H.R. 11602 |
To amend certain laws of the United States in light of the admission of the State of Hawaii into the Union, and for other purposes."The Hawaii Ombibus Act" |
|
86-619 |
9/13/1960 |
S. 1965 |
To make uniform provisions of law with respect to the terms of office of the members of certain regulatory agencies |
|
| 86-609 |
7/7/1960 |
S. 1886 |
To amend the Communicatons Act of 1934 with respect to Community antenna television systems and certain rebroadcasting activities |
|
| 86-533 |
6/29/1960 |
S. 899 |
To provide for the discontinuance of certain reports now required by law |
|
| 86-274 |
1/14/1959 |
S. 2424 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 in order to provide that the equal-time provisions with respect to candidates for public office shall not apply to news and other similar programs |
|
| 85-817 |
8/28/1958 |
H.R. 8543 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize, in certain cases, the issuance of licenses to noncitizens for radio stations on aircraft and for the operation thereof |
|
| 85-791 |
8/28/1958 |
H.R. 6788 |
To authorize the abbrieviation of the record on the review or enforcement of orders of administrative agencies by the courts of appeals and the review or enforcement of such orders on the original papers and to make uniform the law relating to the record |
|
84-985 |
8/6/1956 |
H.R. 7536 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, so as to require that certain vessels carrying passengers for hire be fitted with radiotelephone installations |
|
| 84-914 |
8/2/1956 |
S. 1456 |
To amend section 212, 219 (a), 221 (a) , and 410 (a) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended |
|
| 84-391 |
1/20/1956 |
S. 3464 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 in regard to protests of grants of instruments of authorization without hearing |
|
| 83-590 |
8/13/1954 |
S. 3464 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 in order to make certain provision for the carrying out of the agreement for the promotion of safety on the Great Lakes by means of radio |
|
| 83-584 |
8/13/1954 |
S. 2453 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934, as amended with respect to implementing the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea relating to radio equipment and radio operators on board ship |
|
| 83-345 |
4/27/1954 |
H.R. 6436 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934, as amended with respect to implementing the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea relating to radio equipment and radio operators on board ship |
|
| 83-320 |
3/26/1954 |
H.R. 4558 |
To amend section 309 ( c ) of the Communications Act of 1934, with respect to the time within which the Federal Communications Commission must act on protests filed thereunder |
|
| 83-314 |
3/23/1954 |
H.R. 4559 |
To amend section 501 of the Communications Act of 1934, so that any offense pubishable thereunder, except a second or subsequent offense, shall constitute a misdemeanor rather than a felony |
|
| 82-554 |
7/16/1952 |
S. 658 |
To further amend the Communications Act of 1934 |
|
| 82-200 |
10/24/1951 |
S. 53 |
To further amend the Communications Act of 1934 |
|
| 81-901 |
12/29/1950 |
H.R. 5487 |
Providing for the review of orders of the Federal Communications Commission of certain orders of the Secretary of Agriculture made under the packers and Stockyards Act, and the Perishable Agicultural Commodities Act, and of certain orders of the United |
|
| 80-772 |
6/25/1948 |
H.R. 3190 |
To revise, codify, and enact into positive law, title 18 of the united states code, entitled, "Crimes and Criminal procedure |
|
| 79-344 |
4/16/1946 |
S. 63 |
To amend title V of the Communications Act of 1934 so as to prohibit interference with the broadcasting of noncommercial cultural or educational programs |
|
| 78-4 |
3/6/1943 |
S. 158 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934, to permit consolidation and merge of domestic telegraph carriers |
|
| 77-413 |
1/26/1942 |
H.R. 6263 |
To amend section 606 of the Communications Act of 1934 for the purpose of granting to the President, in time of war or threatened war, certain powers with respect to communications by wire |
|
| 77-20 |
3/23/1941 |
H.R. 533 |
To amend Section 4 (f) of the Communications Act, As Amended , to provide for extra compensation for overtime inspectors in charge and radio inspectors of the Field Division of the Engineering Division of The Federal Communications Commission |
|
| 76-659 |
6/25/1940 |
S. 3018 |
To amend section 210 of the Communications Act of 1934, to permit communication utilities to contribute free services to the national defense |
|
| 76-441 |
3/18/1940 |
H.R. 7863 |
To amend Section 602 (e) of the Communications Act of 1934, As ammended, relating to a study of radio requirements for ships navigating the great lakes and inland waters of the United States. (Public No. 441) |
|
| 75-97 |
5/20/1937 |
S. 595 |
To amend the Communications Act of 1934, Approved June 19, 1934 For the purpose of promoting safety of life and property at sea through the use of wire and radio communications, to make more effective the international convention for the safety |
|
| 75-561 |
5/31/1938 |
H.R. 7711 |
To amend the Act approved June 19,1934, entitled "Communications Act of 1934." (amends section 201 (b)) |
|
| 75-26 |
3/29/1937 |
H.R. 3898 |
To amend Section 318 of the Communications Act of 193 |
|
| 74-652 |
6/5/1936 |
S. 2243 |
Relating to the Allocation of Radio Facilities |
|
| 74-423 |
1/22/1936 |
S. 1336 |
To amend paragraph (f) of section 4 of the Communications Act of 1934 |
|
| 73-416 |
6/19/1934 |
S. 3285 |
To provide for the regulation of interstate and foreign communicatio by wire or radio, and for other purposes |
|
| 71-494 |
7/1/1930 |
H.R. 12599 |
To Amend Section 16 of The Radio Act of 1927 |
|
| 70-195 |
3/28/1928 |
S. 2317 |
Continuing for one year the powers and authority of the Federal Radio Commission under the Radio Act of 1927, and for other purposes |
|
| 69-632 |
2/23/1927 |
H.R. 9971 |
A Bill For the regulation of the radio communication, and for other purposes |
|
| 67-8 |
5/27/1921 |
S. 535 |
To Amend Section 16 of The Radio Act of 1927 |
|
| 62-264 |
5/8/1912 |
S. 6412 |
Radio Act of 1912 |
