FCC Reauthorization Act of 2018

This bill reauthorizes the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for FY2019-FY2020. It amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require that FCC-collected fees be deposited and credited as offsetting collections. Regulatory and application fees must be assessed at rates to recover costs associated with such activities.

The bill requires the Department of the Treasury to accept bidding deposits for spectrum auctions held by the FCC. The deposits of successful bidders must be used for deficit reduction.

The bill includes requiring the FCC:

• to complete a rulemaking proceeding and adopt procedural changes to maximize opportunities for public participation and efficient decision-making;
• to amend station antenna structure regulations to prohibit certain private land use restrictions from applying to amateur radio stations; and
• to submit a study on the public safety benefits, technical feasibility, and cost of providing the public with access to 9-1-1 services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable.

Specified providers that offer the capability to transmit voice communications and signaling information from one destination to another, and that charge a rate to any other entity for such a transmission, must register with the FCC and comply with service quality standards to be established by the FCC.

The bill applies the prohibition against knowingly transmitting misleading or inaccurate caller identification information to text messages and persons outside the United States if the recipient is within the United States.

Communications networks must be treated as critical infrastructure and protected systems under the Homeland Security Act of 2002.