PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Congressional Research Service
Version 17 · Reported to House with amendment(s) · Jul 18, 2018
Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act or the PIRATE Act
This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to address unlicensed radio broadcasting (called "pirating"), including:
increasing the fine for a pirate radio broadcasting violation to not more than $2 million,
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
imposing a fine of up to $100,000 per day for pirating violations subject to the $2 million limit, and
establishing a fine of up to $2 million for any person who facilitates pirate radio broadcasting ("facilitating" includes providing access to property or providing physical goods or services).
The FCC must: (1) annually report to Congress summarizing implementation of this bill and associated enforcement activities for the previous fiscal year; and (2) at least once a year, assign appropriate enforcement personnel to focus specific and sustained attention on the elimination of pirate radio broadcasting within the top five radio markets.
The FCC may not preempt any state or local law prohibiting pirate radio broadcasting.
The FCC shall: (1) revise its rules to require that, absent good cause, in any case alleging a violation, it shall proceed directly to issue a Notice of Apparent Liability without first issuing a Notice of Unlicensed Operations; and (2) publish a database of all licensed radio stations operating in the AM and FM bands, which shall be easily accessible from the FCC home page, identifying each licensed station and all entities that have received a Notice of Unlicensed Operation, Notice of Apparent Liability, or Forfeiture Order by the FCC.
People & committees
Rep. Lance, Leonard [R-NJ-7] · R–NJ
Legislative record
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Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6597)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6597)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5709.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6597-6598)
Mr. Lance moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 652.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 115-843.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 115-843.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze H.R.5709 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.
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