A bill to amend sections 203 and 204 of the Communications Act of 1934.
Public Law 94-376 · S. 2054 · 94th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Aug 4, 1976 · Science, Technology, Communications
Sponsor: Sen. Warren Magnuson (D-WA)
Cosponsors (1): Sen. Abraham Ribicoff
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
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.
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to provide that no change shall be made in the charges, classifications, regulations, or practices of common carriers engaged in interstate or foreign communications by wire or radio, which have been filed and published except after 90 days (presently 30 days) notice to the Federal Communications Commission and to the public. Provides that the Commission may extend such period to a maximum of 90 days.
Authorizes the Commission, pending a hearing on the reasonableness of a proposed change, to suspend the operation of new or revised charges, classifications, regulations, or practices for a period of five months (presently three months) beyond the time when it would otherwise go into effect. Provides that the Commission may allow part of a charge, classification, regulation, or practice to go into effect on a temporary basis.
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. 13 actions.
- Aug 4, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-376.
- Jul 23, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Jul 22, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jul 21, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment.
- Jul 20, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 13961.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- Jun 1, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- May 27, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- May 25, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jul 8, 1975CommitteeCommittee · 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.