Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 1.djvu/136

 110 STAT. 112 PUBLIC LAW 104-104—FEB. 8, 1996 determine whether any of such rules are necessary in the public interest as the result of competition. The Commission shall repeal or modify any regulation it determines to be no longer in the public interest. (i) ELIMINATION OF STATUTORY RESTRICTION. — Section 613(a) (47 U.S.C. 533(a)) is amended— (1) by striking paragraph (1); (2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as subsection (a); (3) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively; (4) by striking "and" at the end of paragraph (1) (as so redesignated); (5) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) and inserting "; and"; and (6) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: "(3) shall not apply the requirements of this subsection to any cable operator in any franchise area in which a cable operator is subject to effective competition as determined under section 623(1). ". SEC. 203. TERM OF LICENSES. Section 307(c) (47 U.S.C. 307(c)) is amended to read as follows: " (c) TERMS OF LICENSES.— "(1) INITIAL AND RENEWAL LICENSES.— Each license granted for the operation of a broadcasting station shall be for a term of not to exceed 8 years. Upon application therefor, a renewal of such license may be granted from time to time for a term of not to exceed 8 years from the date of expiration of the preceding license, if the Commission finds that public interest, convenience, and necessity would be served thereby. Consistent with the foregoing provisions of this subsection, the Commission may by rule prescribe the period or periods for which licenses shall be granted and renewed for particular classes of stations, but the Commission may not adopt or follow any rule which would preclude it, in any case involving a station of a particular class, from granting or renewing a license for a shorter period than that prescribed for stations of such class if, in its judgment, the public interest, convenience, or necessity would be served by such action. "(2) MATERIALS IN APPLICATION.— In order to expedite action on applications for renewal of broadcasting station licenses and in order to avoid needless expense to applicants for such renewals, the Commission shall not require any such applicant to file any information which previously has been furnished to the Commission or which is not directly material to the considerations that afiect the granting or denial of such application, but the Commission may require any new or additional facts it deems necessary to make its findings. "(3) CONTINUATION PENDING DECISION.—Pending any hearing and final decision on such an application and the disposition of any petition for rehearing pursuant to section 405, the Commission shall continue such license in effect.". SEC. 204. BROADCAST LICENSE RENEWAL PROCEDURES. (a) RENEWAL PROCEDURES.— (1) AMENDMENT. — Section 309 (47 U.S.C. 309) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection: " (k) BROADCAST STATION RENEWAL PROCEDURES.—

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