118 HR 7461 IH: Broadband Equipment Rental Reform Act U.S. House of Representatives 2024-02-26 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I118th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 7461IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFebruary 26, 2024Mr. Van Drew introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceA BILLTo amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit providers of broadband internet access service from charging consumers above certain amounts for certain equipment.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Broadband Equipment Rental Reform Act.

2.

Prohibition on charging consumers above certain amounts for certain rented equipment

Section 642 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 562) is amended—(1)by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and(2)by inserting after subsection (c) the following: (d)

Prohibition on charging consumers above certain amounts for certain equipment

A provider of fixed broadband internet access service that enters into a contract with a consumer after the date of the enactment of this paragraph for the provision of such service may not charge the consumer for renting, leasing, or otherwise providing to the consumer equipment (such as a router or modem) employed on the premises of the consumer for the provision of such service, if the consumer has paid to the provider through monthly rental fees the price offered to the consumer by the provider (at the time the contract was entered into) for purchasing the equipment from the provider. .