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H.R. 4715: Spectrum Accountability Act

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H.R. 4715: Spectrum Accountability Act

108th Congress · introduced 2004-06-25 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2004-06-25 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Nussle, Jim [R-IA-1] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Spectrum Accountability Act

Plain summary

Spectrum Accountability Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to clarify that the Federal Communications Commission is obligated to use the competitive bidding process for mutually exclusive license applications (subject to existing exceptions) and to accept such applications if granting a license would result in the licensee: (1) being authorized to use a materially greater quantity or value of spectrum; or (2) effectively exchanging a previously held license for one that materially alters rights or obligations under the prior license or permits the licensee to provide additional services.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Spectrum Accountability Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Nussle, Jim [R-IA-1] · 4 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Joe Wilson (R-SC)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Obligation
A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong108-hr4715 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108