Signed by President Bill Clinton

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that decreases regulations on telecommunications.

Highlights:

• Increases maximum percent for national audience reach a national television owner can be licensed for from 25 percent to 35 percent.

• Eliminates regulations concerning the number radio broadcast stations that can be owned or controlled by 1 entity.

• Establishes an advisory committee to make recommendations no later than a year after being formed concerning procedures for creating a rating system for video programming, then the television code will be created.

• Encourages development of technology to block programming and requires that within 2 years of this enactment, such technology be installed in every television with a 13 inch screen or greater.

• Indicates that the rates of cable services with 50,000 or fewer subscribers will be deregulated more than larger companies.

• Requires the state to designate more eligible carriers for each service area.

• Allows any Bell operating company to provide long distance service.

• States that providers of interactive computer services will not be liable for attempting to restrict access to obscene material through the internet.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that decreases regulations on telecommunications.

Highlights:

• Increases maximum percent for national audience reach a national television owner can be licensed for from 25 percent to 35 percent.

• Eliminates regulations concerning the number radio broadcast stations that can be owned or controlled by 1 entity.

• Establishes an advisory committee to make recommendations no later than a year after being formed concerning procedures for creating a rating system for video programming, then the television code will be created.

• Encourages development of technology to block programming and requires that within 2 years of this enactment, such technology be installed in every television with a 13 inch screen or greater.

• Indicates that the rates of cable services with 50,000 or fewer subscribers will be deregulated more than larger companies.

• Requires the state to designate more eligible carriers for each service area.

• Allows any Bell operating company to provide long distance service.

• States that providers of interactive computer services will not be liable for attempting to restrict access to obscene material through the internet.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that decreases regulations on telecommunications.

Highlights:

• Requires representatives of the broadcast television industry to develop a rating system for programming and signals that allow programs with specific ratings to be blocked within 1 year of enactment.

• Sets a penalty of no more than $100,000, up to 2 years of imprisonment, or both, for making obscene material available through a telecommunication device.

• Stipulates that if representatives of the broadcast television industry do not develop a rating system, then a Television Rating Commission will be created to design and implement a rating system.

• Indicates that both the Federal Communications Commission and States should encourage price flexibility in the rates charged by telecommunications carriers for services.

• Allows any Bell operating company to provide long distance service.

• Increases the maximum percentage of "aggregate national audience reach" a national television broadcasting owner can be licensed for from 25 to 35 percent.

• Eliminates regulations concerning the number of radio broadcast stations that can be owned or controlled by one entity.

• Prohibits regulations that diminish competition in the provision of local or long-distance telecommunications services.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text