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Educational Radio Protection Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jun 17, 2004

Educational Radio Protection Act - States that a qualifying educational FM radio station is entitled, upon application by the station's licensee, to: (1) have its license be subject to the same license terms and renewal standards (other than fees) as licenses for full-power class A FM radio stations; and (2) have its licensee accorded primary status as a radio broadcaster so long as the station remains a qualifying FM radio station.

Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide written notice of the provisions of this Act to specified licensees of Class D FM radio stations.

Prohibits the FCC from awarding or assigning to commercial FM radio stations any portion of the radio spectrum assigned to qualifying educational FM radio stations for which an application is submitted within one year of enactment of this Act and approved.

Requires the FCC to restore to educational stations whose applications are successful and not subject to appeal any portion of educational station spectrum previously awarded to commercial stations if the previous award occurred after April 30, 2004, and before the educational station's application was approved.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] · D–WA

Committees

  • Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

    Actions

    A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

    1. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

    2. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 6/18/2004 S7009-7010)

    3. Introduced in Senate

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    Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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