S. 2820: Spectrum Availability for Emergency-Response and Law-Enforcement To Improve Vital Emergency Services Act

108th Congress · introduced 2004-09-21 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: By Senator McCain from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 108-428.

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Where it came from: introduced 2004-09-21 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: By Senator McCain from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 108-428. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
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 Availability for Emergency-Response and Law-Enforcement To Improve Vital Emergency Services Act

Plain summary

Spectrum Availability for Emergency-Response and Law-Enforcement to Improve Vital Emergency Services (SAVE LIVES) Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from granting any extension in the required reassignment of broadcasting stations between 764 and 776 and 794 and 806 megahertz for public safety services. Directs the FCC to complete the assignment of the electromagnetic spectrum between such stations, and to permit operations by public safety services on those frequencies commencing no later than January 1, 2008. Authorizes the FCC, beginning on such date, to modify or reassign the licenses of licensees as necessary to permit such new operations. Allows the FCC to waive such requirements in specified circumstances. Requires the FCC to report to specified congressional committees on strategies for meeting public safety communications needs and the advisability of reallocating spectrum in the 700 megahertz band for unlicensed broadband uses. Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security's Under Secretary for Science and Technology to establish the Wireless Public Safety Interoperability Communications Program (SAFECOM) and to complete a communications interoperability study. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a grant program to help first responders acquire and deploy interoperable communications equipment. Establishes the Digital Transition Consumer Assistance Fund. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to establish a program to assist households in transitioning from analog to digital television. Requires the program to: (1) become publicly available no later than January 1, 2008; and (2) give first priority to assisting lower income households. Gives the FCC authority to require analog television sets sold or offered for sale after September 30, 2005, that will be incapable of broadcasting digital signals without an external device to be labeled as such. Requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to recommend to specified congressional committees a program to educate consumers about the transition to digital broadcast signals. Directs the FCC to issue final decisions in three pending proceedings. Requires the FCC, in one of the proceedings, to establish minimum guidelines for locally originated programming, local electoral and public affairs programming, and independently produced programming for television broadcast licensees.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s)), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Spectrum Availability for Emergency-Response and Law-Enforcement To Improve Vital Emergency Services Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s))

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 2820, SAVE LIVES Act (2004-11-01); CBO cost estimate: S. 2820, SAVE LIVES Act (2004-11-01)

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)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s))
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-108s2820.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/108/s>

Record fed-us-cong108-s2820 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108