Federal Communications Commission Authorization Act of 1988
Public Law 100-594 · S. 1048 · 100th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Nov 3, 1988 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Cosponsors (3): Sen. Fritz Hollings, Sen. John Danforth,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Federal Communications Commission Authorization Act of 1988 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize FY 1988 and 1989 appropriations for the Federal Communications Commission.
Extends through FY 1989 the authority for the Commission's travel reimbursement program.
Repeals the requirement for the Commission to submit an annual management report to the Congress.
Delays for one year the date by which the Commission must begin biennial reviews of its Schedule of Charges, adjusting it to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index.
Authorizes the Commission, during FY 1988 and 1989, to make grants to and enter into cooperative agreements with private nonprofit organizations to employ older Americans to provide technical and administrative assistance on projects related to the implementation, promotion, or enforcement of Commission regulations. Requires the Commission and program participants to certify their compliance with various program prerequisites. Prohibits the employment of program participants in policymaking positions.
Exempts ex parte congressional communications with the Commission from regulations that restrict communications during the week prior to specified types of Commission proceedings.
Requires the Commission to issue an order concluding any hearing concerning the lawfulness of any new or revised charge, classification, regulation, or practice within 12 months of the item's effective date (15 months in very complex cases). Permits appeals of such orders. Establishes corresponding requirements in connection with Commission investigations of such questions. Requires the Commission to issue within 90 days of receipt an order granting or denying any petition for reconsideration of any order concluding such a hearing or investigation.
Authorizes the Commission to spend FY 1989 and 1990 appropriations to relocate the Hawaii Monitoring Station in Honolulu (Waipahu) to another site in Hawaii. Sets forth procedures and actions to be taken in connection with the sale of the present site as surplus property and with sale proceeds. Prohibits the Commission and the General Services Administration from taking action until their principals have prepared and submitted to specified congressional committees a detailed plan concerning the relocation.
Expresses the sense of the Congress: (1) encouraging and supporting the Amateur Radio Service and its emergency communications efforts; and (2) urging Government agencies to take into account the valuable contributions of amateur radio operators when considering actions that affect the Amateur Radio Service.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 10 actions.
- Nov 3, 1988Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 100-594.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 27, 1988PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 19, 1988FloorFloor · Passed House by Voice Vote.
- Oct 7, 1988FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Aug 4, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jul 14, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Apr 21, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.