Federal Communications Commission Authorization Act of 1990
Public Law 101-396 · H.R. 3265 · 101st Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Sep 28, 1990 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA-7)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. Matthew Rinaldo
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- 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 1990 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize appropriations for the Federal Communications Commission for FY 1990 and 1991.
Makes funds available to the Commission for administrative expenses associated with the collection of fees.
Earmarks specified FY 1991 Commission funds for upgrading and modernizing equipment at the Commission's electronic emissions test laboratory in Laurel, Maryland.
Authorizes the Commission to accept and employ the services of qualified persons to prepare and administer examinations for commercial radio operator licenses or endorsements. Authorizes the Commission to prescribe regulations to select, oversee, sanction, and dismiss such employees. Excepts such employees from consideration as Federal or special Government employees.
Extends through: (1) FY 1992 the Commission's travel reimbursement program; and (2) FY 1991 the Commission's authorization to make grants or to enter into agreements to utilize the talents of older Americans in programs authorized by the Commission.
Extends through FY 1992 the Commission's authorization to expend funds for the relocation within the State of Hawaii of the Hawaii Monitoring Station presently located in Honolulu. Amends the Federal Communications Commission Authorization Act of 1988 to authorize the Administrator of General Services to dispose only to the State of Hawaii the property comprising such Station in order for such relocation to occur. Requires such sale and conveyance to occur on an expedited basis. Specifies terms and conditions of sale, including the payment of at least the fair market value of such property by Hawaii to the Administrator. Requires GSA to reimburse the Commission the net proceeds of such sale. Provides that, in the event the GSA and Hawaii are not able to execute a contract for such sale, the Administrator shall not proceed to public sale of such property. Requires the Station to continue full operations at its present location until a new facility is built and is fully operational.
Increases to 120 days (currently, 90 days) the period of notice a common carrier is required to provide before implementing changes in the fees charged for wire or radio communications between different points within the carrier's system.
Authorizes the use of multilateral (currently, only bilateral) agreements between the United States and an alien's government when allowing such alien the right to operate an amateur radio in both the United States and the countries privy to the multilateral or bilateral agreement.
Prohibits the willful or malicious interference with any radio communication of any station licensed or authorized under the Communications Act of 1934 or operated by the Government.
Excludes persons who are not applicants for certain licenses from the Commission from forfeiture penalty provisions in the case of rebates or offsets.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Energy and Commerce Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee
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. 23 actions.
- Sep 28, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-396.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Sep 19, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Sep 13, 1990Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Markey asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.
- Jul 19, 1990FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1022 with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Nov 1, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Oct 30, 1989FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Moorhead demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Markey moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Oct 27, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Oct 24, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Oct 12, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Oct 6, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Sep 13, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
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.