S. 649: Radio Spectrum Inventory Act

111th Congress · introduced 2009-03-19 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 309.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2009-03-19 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 309. 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

Radio Spectrum Inventory Act

Plain summary

Radio Spectrum Inventory Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to: (1) biennially inventory each radio spectrum band, at a minimum, from 300 megahertz to 3.5 gigahertz managed by each such agency, including information on the licenses or government user assigned in the band, the total spectrum allocation of each licensee or government user, the number of deployed intentional and end-user intentional radiators, and (if available) other specified information; and (2) make the information available to the public through the Internet. Directs the NTIA and FCC to report to Congress on such inventory. Allows a licensee or government user to petition the NTIA or the FCC for a partial or total exemption from website inclusion. Allows an exemption to be granted only to the extent that each such agency determines that disclosure of the information would be harmful to U.S. national security. Makes such exemptions applicable for a two-year period, unless there is a request for, and granting of, an extension. Requires information excluded under an exemption to be compiled and reported to Congress on a confidential basis.

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

Radio Spectrum Inventory Act

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

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA] · 11 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 649, Radio Spectrum Inventory Act (2009-07-28); CBO cost estimate: S. 649, Radio Spectrum Inventory Act (2009-07-28)

Cosponsors on this site

Roger F. Wicker (R-MS), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), John Thune (R-SD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

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)

Exemption: A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.
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-111s649.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/111/s>

Record fed-us-cong111-s649 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111