HR 6055 IH
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6055
To require the Federal Communications Commission to establish requirements and issue a nationwide public safety broadband license, to establish a grant program to fund administrative and operational costs of the licensee, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 14, 2008
Ms. HARMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To require the Federal Communications Commission to establish requirements and issue a nationwide public safety broadband license, to establish a grant program to fund administrative and operational costs of the licensee, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
SEC. 2. PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND LICENSE.
(a) In General- The Federal Communications Commission shall modify the nationwide license issued under the Communications Act of 1934 to the Public Safety Broadband Licensee (`PSBL') for the use of the broadband segment of the spectrum allocated for public safety services under section 337(a)(1) of such Act (47 U.S.C. 337(a)(1)) as required by subsection (b).
(b) License Requirements- The license under subsection (a) shall require, at a minimum, that the PSBL--
(1) collaborate with a commercial entity to establish a nationwide, interoperable broadband public safety communications network;
(2) be broadly representative of the public safety community;
(3) operate as a not-for-profit organization;
(4) have no participation in its management by commercial entities or interests;
(5) submit an annual budget to the Commission that includes both projected expenditures and income; and
(6) submit a report to the Commission, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year documenting all income and expenditures made in such fiscal year.
SEC. 3. GRANT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL COSTS.
(a) In General- The Commission shall make grants, not to exceed $1,000,000 per fiscal year for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010, to the PSBL to fund administrative and operational costs.
(b) Budget Required- Prior to making a grant under subsection (a), the Commission shall review and approve the budget submitted under section (2)(b)(5).
(c) Grant Restrictions- Upon receipt of grant funds under this section, the PSBL shall not--
(1) receive any payments from any entity in each fiscal year covered by such grant funds; and
(2) use any grant funds received to pay any debts that the PSBL had incurred before the receipt of such grant funds.
(d) Use of Appropriated Funds- Any sums appropriated to the Commission pursuant to this Act for which the Commission does not make grants under this section shall be used by the Commission to promote the establishment of a nationwide, interoperable broadband public safety communications network.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) COMMISSION- The term `Commission' refers to the Federal Communications Commission.
(2) PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND LICENSEE- The term `Public Safety Broadband Licensee' or `PSBL' has the meaning given the term in section 90.7 of the Commission's rules (47 C.F.R. 90.7) as in effect on May 1, 2008.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commission to carry out this Act $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010.
U.S. Congress - Text of H.R.6055 as Introduced in House Public Safety Broadband Authorization Act of 2008
