[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1555 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1555
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require cable operators and
internet service providers who are subject to State fines to submit a
report, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 6, 2019
Mr. Brindisi introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require cable operators and
internet service providers who are subject to State fines to submit a
report, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Transparency for Cable Consumers
Act''.
SEC. 2. FCC REPORTING REQUIREMENT FOR CABLE OPERATORS AND INTERNET
SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO ARE SUBJECT TO STATE FINES.
Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 601 et.
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 723. REPORTING REQUIREMENT FOR CABLE OPERATORS AND INTERNET
SERVICE PROVIDERS SUBJECT TO STATE FINES AND PENALTIES.
``(a) Report Required.--Not later than October 1 of each year for a
period of ten years that begins the year following a year in which a
cable operator or internet service provider begins making payments to a
State that qualifies the operator or provider as a covered entity, the
covered entity shall submit to the Commission a report that includes
the following:
``(1) The total number of customers the covered entity has
in each county in which the covered entity operates in that
State. For the second through tenth such report, the percentage
increase or decrease from the previous 12 months for each such
county.
``(2) The average monthly customer billed amount in each
county in which the covered entity operates in that State for
the previous 12 months. For the second through tenth such
report, the percentage increase or decrease from the previous
12 months for each county.
``(3) In the case of a cable provider that is a covered
entity, the average billed amount for cable service for each
county in which the covered entity operates in that State for
the previous 12 months.
``(4) In the case of an internet service provider that is a
covered entity, the average billed amount for broadband
internet service for each county in which the covered entity
operates in that State for the previous 12 months.
``(5) In the case of a covered entity that is a cable
operator and an internet service provider, a separate report
for both the average billed amount for cable service and the
average billed amount for broadband internet service for each
county in which the covered entity operates in that State for
the previous 12 months.
``(6) The average internet speeds delivered to customers in
each county in which the covered entity has operated in that
State for the previous 12 months, including the average upload
and download speed. For years 2-10 of the reporting
requirement, this must also include the percentage increase or
decrease from the previous year for each county.
``(7) A list of all additional fees which appeared on
customers' bills during the past 12 months as well as the
average charge for each fee for each county in which the
company operates in that State. For the second through tenth
such report, the percentage increase or decrease from the
previous 12 months for each county.
``(b) Submission to Congress.--Not later than 30 days after the
date on which the Commission receives a report under subsection (a),
the Commission shall submit such report to each Member of Congress from
the relevant State.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Broadband internet service.--The term `broadband
internet service'--
``(A) means a mass-market retail service by wire or
radio that provides the capability to transmit data to
and receive data from all or substantially all internet
endpoints, including any capabilities that are
incidental to and enable the operation of the
communications service;
``(B) does not include dial-up internet access
service; and
``(C) includes any service that the Commission
finds to be providing a functional equivalent of the
service described in subparagraph (A) or that is used
to evade the protections set forth in part 8 of title
47, Code of Federal Regulations.
``(2) Cable operator; cable service.--The terms `cable
operator' and `cable service' have the meanings given those
terms in section 602.
``(3) County.--The term `county' includes a parish or
borough.
``(4) Covered entity.--The term `covered entity' means a
cable operator or internet service provider that is directed by
a State Public Service Commission or State Department of Public
Service to pay $1,000,000 or more to the State in fines or
penalties.
``(5) Internet service provider.--The term `internet
service provider' means any person or group of persons that
provides broadband internet access service.
``(6) Member of congress.--The term `Member of Congress'
means a Senator or a Representative in, or Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to, the Congress.''.
<all>