PUBLIC LAW 107-195-JUNE 19, 2002 116 STAT. 717 C-block and D-block licenses described in clause (i) shall be commenced no earlier than August 19, 2002, and no later than September 19, 2002, and the proceeds of such auction shall be deposited in accordance with paragraph (8) not later than December 31, 2002. "(iv) REPORT. — Within one year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Commission shall submit a report to Congress— "(I) specifying when the Commission intends to reschedule auctions 31 and 44 (other than the blocks excepted by clause (i)); and "(II) describing the progress made by the Commission in the digital television transition and in the assignment and allocation of additional spectrum for advanced mobile communications services that warrants the scheduling of such auctions. "(D) RETURN OF PAYMENTS.—Within one month after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Commission shall return to the bidders for licenses in the A-block, B-block, and E-block of auction 44 the full amount of all upfront payments made by such bidders for such licenses.", (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— (1) COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934. —Section 309(j)(14)(C)(ii) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(14)(C)(ii)) is amended by striking the second sentence. (2) BALANCED BUDGET ACT OF 1997. —Section 3007 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (111 Stat. 269) is repealed. 47 USC 309 note. (3) CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT.— Paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 213(a) of H.R. 3425 of the 106th Congress, as enacted into law by section 1000(a)(5) of An Act making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000, and for other purposes (Public Law 106- 113; 113 Stat. 1501A-295), are repealed. 47 USC 337 note. SEC. 4. COMPLIANCE WITH AUCTION AUTHORITY. 47 USC 309 note. The Federal Communications Commission shall conduct rescheduled auctions 31 and 44 prior to the expiration of the auction authority under section 309(j)(ll) of the Commiinications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(ll)). SEC. 5. PRESERVATION OF BROADCASTER OBLIGATIONS. 47 USC 309 note. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to relieve television broadcast station licensees of the obligation to complete the digital television service conversion as required by section 309(j)(14) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(14)). SEC. 6. INTERFERENCE PROTECTION. 47 USC 337 note. (a) INTERFERENCE WAIVERS.— In granting a request by a television broadcast station licensee assigned to any of channels 52- 69 to utilize any channel of channels 2-51 that is assigned for digital broadcasting in order to continue analog broadcasting during the transition to digital broadcasting, the Federal Communications Commission may not, either at the time of the grant or thereafter, waive or otherwise reduce— (1) the spacing requirements provided for analog broadcasting licensees within channels 2-51 as required by section 73.610 of the Commission's rules (and the table contained therein) (47 CFR 73.610), or
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