text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Dissenting Viewpoints and 
  Voices Act of 2017''.
  
  SEC. 2. VIEWPOINT PROTECTION.
  
      (a) Actions by FCC.--Title I of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
  U.S.C. 151 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
  
  ``SEC. 13. VIEWPOINT PROTECTION.
  
      ``(a) Prohibition Against Retaliation on Basis of Viewpoint.--The 
  Commission may not revoke any license or other authorization of, or 
  otherwise take action against, any person on the basis, in whole or in 
  part, of viewpoints taken, or not taken, on issues of public importance 
  in content that is broadcast or otherwise disseminated by such person 
  or any person affiliated with such person.
      ``(b) Prohibition Against Conditions on Viewpoint in Transaction 
  Review.--The Commission may not place on any approval under subsections 
  (a), (b), and (c) of section 214 or section 310(d) any condition with 
  respect to viewpoints to be taken, or not taken, on issues of public 
  importance in content broadcast or otherwise disseminated by the person 
  seeking such approval, any successor of such person, or any person 
  affiliated with such person or successor.
      ``(c) No Effect on Certain Other Authority of Commission.--Nothing 
  in this section shall be construed to affect the authority of the 
  Commission to take action on the basis of, or to place a condition on 
  an approval described in subsection (b) with respect to--
              ``(1) a violation of--
                      ``(A) section 1304 of title 18, United States Code, 
                  or conduct that would constitute a violation of such 
                  section if content disseminated by means other than 
                  radio or television broadcast were disseminated by 
                  means of radio or television broadcast;
                      ``(B) section 1343 of such title; or
                      ``(C) section 1464 of such title, or conduct that 
                  would constitute a violation of such section if content 
                  disseminated by means other than radio communication 
                  were disseminated by means of radio communication;
              ``(2) a violation of, or conduct that the Commission has 
          the authority to require or prohibit under, section 312(a)(7), 
          315, or 317 of this Act;
              ``(3) any public interest obligation under this Act of the 
          person broadcasting or otherwise disseminating the content 
          involved; or
              ``(4) the broadcast or other dissemination of content that 
          constitutes incitement under the First Amendment to the 
          Constitution.''.
      (b) Actions at Direction of President.--
              (1) Retaliation on basis of viewpoint.--The President may 
          not direct an agency to take any action against any person on 
          the basis, in whole or in part, of viewpoints taken, or not 
          taken, on issues of public importance in content that is 
          broadcast or otherwise disseminated by such person or any 
          person affiliated with such person.
              (2) Conditions on approvals or other decisions.--The 
          President may not direct an agency to place on any approval or 
          other decision within the jurisdiction of the agency any 
          condition with respect to viewpoints to be taken, or not taken, 
          on issues of public importance in content broadcast or 
          otherwise disseminated by the person seeking such approval or 
          other decision, any successor of such person, or any person 
          affiliated with such person or successor.
              (3) No effect on certain other authority of president.--
          Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to affect the 
          authority of the President--
                      (A) to direct an agency to take action on the basis 
                  of, or to place a condition on an approval or other 
                  decision within the jurisdiction of the agency, with 
                  respect to--
                              (i) a violation of--
                                      (I) section 1304 of title 18, 
                                  United States Code, or conduct that 
                                  would constitute a violation of such 
                                  section if content disseminated by 
                                  means other than radio or television 
                                  broadcast were disseminated by means of 
                                  radio or television broadcast;
                                      (II) section 1343 of such title; or
                                      (III) section 1464 of such title, 
                                  or conduct that would constitute a 
                                  violation of such section if content 
                                  disseminated by means other than radio 
                                  communication were disseminated by 
                                  means of radio communication; or
                              (ii) the broadcast or other dissemination 
                          of content that constitutes incitement under 
                          the First Amendment to the Constitution; or
                      (B) to execute the duties of the President under 
                  any provision of law.
              (4) Agency defined.--In this subsection, the term 
          ``agency'' has the meaning given such term in section 551 of 
          title 5, United States Code.
target: Protecting Dissenting Viewpoints and Voices Act of 2017 This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from using the viewpoints that a person broadcasts or otherwise disseminates on issues of public importance as a basis for: (1) revoking the person's licenses or authorizations; (2) taking action against the person; or (3) placing conditions on the FCC's approval of the assignment or transfer of a station license or construction permit or the construction, extension, acquisition, operation, or discontinuation of a communications line. The bill also prohibits the President from directing an agency to take actions against a person, or to condition agency approvals, based on a person's broadcasted or disseminated viewpoints. Nothing in this bill affects the authority of the FCC or the President to take action against violations concerning the broadcast of: (1) obscene or indecent language, fraudulent schemes, or lottery information; or (2) content constituting incitement under the First Amendment.  The FCC may continue to enforce broadcast requirements that: (1) permit candidates to federal elective office to purchase reasonable broadcast time, (2) allow equal broadcast opportunities for all candidates for public office, and (3) require disclosures of paid broadcasts.  The President may continue to direct agencies to take actions to execute the President's legal duties.
feat_title: Protecting Dissenting Viewpoints and Voices Act of 2017