PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 17, 1997
Family Television Viewing Information and Empowerment Act of 1997 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from granting or renewing a license for a broadcast television station unless the license applicant submits to the FCC evidence of: (1) a plan for the implementation of a rating system for the content of programming to be broadcast by such station, in the case of a license grant application; or (2) the current implementation of such a rating system, in the case of application for license renewal. Prohibits the FCC from assigning transitional digital television frequencies to a broadcast television station unless the person licensed to operate such station submits to the FCC evidence of the implementation of a rating system. Directs the FCC to require a person assigned such frequencies, before the enactment of this Act, to surrender them to the FCC if the person does not submit to it evidence of the implementation of a rating system before using the frequencies. Outlines general and specific rating system elements, requiring FCC review of each such system.
People & committees
Sen. Coats, Daniel [R-IN] · R–IN
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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