(Sec. 3) Establishes the Rural Television Loan Guarantee Board which shall determine loan recipients under this Act.
(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Board, subject to prior funding, to approve loan guarantees to finance the acquisition, improvement, construction, launch, or rehabilitation of the means by which local television broadcast signals will be delivered principally to unserved areas. Directs the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service to prescribe implementing regulations.
Includes among loan requirements stipulations that such loan must: (1) not be used for operating, advertising, or promotional expenses; (2) be determined by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to be commercially viable and not likely to have an adverse competitive effect; (3) be provided by a qualifying lender; and (4) be repaid within 25 years or the primary asset's useful life.
Grants loan priority to projects serving the greatest number of households in unserved areas. Prohibits loans that will serve certain populated market areas.
Establishes an: (1) aggregate $1.25 billion loan cap; and (2) 80 percent loan guarantee for the portion of the loan used to provide local television signals.
Authorizes the Board to establish and approve credit risk premiums.
States that the Board's approval or disapproval of a loan guarantee shall not be subject to judicial review.
(Sec. 5) Directs the Administrator to issue and administer approved loan guarantees.
Sets forth provisions respecting: (1) security for protection of U.S. financial interests; (2) loan guarantee assignment; (3) loan guarantee modification; (4) performance schedules; (5) compliance; (6) commercial validity; (7) defaults; (8) payment recovery; (9) action against an obligor; (10) breach of conditions; (11) attachment; (12) fees; (13) affiliates; and (14) bankruptcy.
(Sec. 6) Prohibits fund use: (1) for spectrum auctions; and (2) by incumbent cable operators.
(Sec. 8) Directs the Comptroller General to perform annual audits of: (1) the loan guarantee program; and (2) loan guarantee recipients.
(Sec. 9) States that a facility of a satellite carrier, cable system, or other multichannel video programming distributor financed with a loan guarantee under this Act that delivers local broadcasting signals in a specified television market shall not be required to carry a greater number of signals than such market's largest cable subscriber system.
(Sec. 10) Directs the Federal Communications Commission to open an application filing period window for television translator stations and low-power television stations in rural areas.
(Sec. 11) Directs the FCC to reinstate as tentative rural service selectees, and permit application amendments for: (1) Great Western Cellular Partners; (2) Monroe Telephone Services L.P.;and (3) FutureWave General Partners L.P.
(Sec. 12) Amends the Communications Act of 1934 with respect to the definition of "satellite carrier." (Includes distributors under specified circumstances.)
(Sec. 13) Defined specified terms.
(Sec. 14) Authorizes FY 2001 through 2006 appropriations.
(Sec. 15) Prohibits loan guarantee approval after December 31, 2006.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee on Judiciary discharged.
Committee on Judiciary discharged.
House Committee on Commerce Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than April 4, 2000.
House Committee on Commerce Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than April 5, 2000.
House Committee on Commerce Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than April 6, 2000.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Commerce. H. Rept. 106-508, Part II.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Commerce. H. Rept. 106-508, Part II.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 309.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 475 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3615 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. In lieu of the amendments recommended by the Committees on Agriculture and Commerce now printed in the bill, the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution shall be considered as adopted. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.
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ORDER OF PROCEDURE - Mr. Dreier asked unanimous consent that it be in order at any time without intervention of any point of order to consider in the House the bill H.R. 3615; that the bill be considered as read for amendment; that, in lieu of the amendments recommended by the Committees on Agriculture and Commerce now printed in the bill, the amendment in the nature of a substitute which is at the desk be considered as read and adopted; that the previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill, as amended, to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate; (2) one motion to recommit with or without instructions; and (3) that H. Res. 475 be laid upon the table. Agreed to without objection.
Consideration initiated by previous order of the House.
Considered by previous order of the House. (consideration: CR H2283-2302; text of measure as reported in House: CR H2283-2285)
DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order, the House proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 3615.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to a previous order of the House.
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 375 - 37 (Roll no. 128).(text: CR H2292-2296)
Roll Call #128 (House)On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 375 - 37 (Roll no. 128). (text: CR H2292-2296)
Roll Call #128 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 525.