Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 2, 2006
Audio Broadcast Flag Licensing Act of 2006 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to require and enforce, in conjunction with the in-band, on-channel technical standard for digital audio broadcast transmissions under consideration, that: (1) all technologies necessary to make transmission and reception devices compliant with such standard are licensed on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms; (2) such licenses include prohibitions against unauthorized copying and redistribution of transmitted content through the use of a broadcast flag or similar technology; and (3) FCC licensees providing digital audio broadcast service comply with such prohibitions. Mandates the same requirements with respect to FCC regulation of satellite digital audio radio services (SDARS) pursuant to FCC rules. Provides limitations with respect to the adoption of any digital audio regulations.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Aug 15, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Explore the bill from different angles
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Neutral evidence review
Objective
Analyze H.R.4861 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact
Progressive lens
Examine H.R.4861 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope
Conservative lens
Examine H.R.4861 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power
Liberty lens
Examine H.R.4861 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.