[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 9, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H7349-H7350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ENHANCE LABELING, ACCESSING, AND BRANDING OF ELECTRONIC LICENSES ACT OF 
                                  2014

  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 5161) to promote the non-exclusive use of electronic labeling for 
devices licensed by the Federal Communications Commission.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5161

       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 ``Enhance Labeling, Accessing, 
     and Branding of Electronic Licenses Act of 2014'' or the ``E-
     LABEL Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) The Federal Communications Commission (referred to in 
     this section as the ``Commission'') first standardized 
     physical labels for licensed products such as computers, 
     phones, and other electronic devices in 1973, and the 
     Commission has continually refined physical label 
     requirements over time.
       (2) As devices become smaller, compliance with physical 
     label requirements can become more difficult and costly.
       (3) Many manufacturers and consumers of licensed devices in 
     the United States would prefer to have the option to provide 
     or receive important Commission labeling information 
     digitally on the screen of the device, at the discretion of 
     the user.
       (4) An electronic labeling option would give flexibility to 
     manufacturers in meeting labeling requirements.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
                   TO ALLOW ELECTRONIC LABELING.

       Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 601 
     et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 720. OPTIONAL ELECTRONIC LABELING OF COMMUNICATIONS 
                   EQUIPMENT.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
       ``(1) the term `electronic labeling' means displaying 
     required labeling and regulatory information electronically; 
     and
       ``(2) the term `radiofrequency device with display' means 
     any equipment or device that--
       ``(A) is required under regulations of the Commission to be 
     authorized by the Commission before the equipment or device 
     may be marketed or sold within the United States; and
       ``(B) has the capability to digitally display required 
     labeling and regulatory information.
       ``(b) Requirement To Promulgate Regulations for Electronic 
     Labeling.--Not later than 9 months after the date of 
     enactment of the Enhance Labeling, Accessing, and Branding of 
     Electronic Licenses Act of 2014, the Commission shall 
     promulgate regulations or take other appropriate action, as 
     necessary, to allow manufacturers of radiofrequency devices 
     with display the option to use electronic labeling for the 
     equipment in place of affixing physical labels to the 
     equipment.''.

     SEC. 4. SAVINGS CLAUSE.

       The amendment made by section 3 shall not be construed to 
     affect the authority of the Federal Communications Commission 
     under section 302 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
     U.S.C. 302a) to provide for electronic labeling of devices.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Latta) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
insert extraneous material in the Record on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 5161, the E-LABEL Act. This 
legislation that I introduced is a bipartisan and bicameral measure 
that marks an important step forward in modernizing our laws to 
reflects today's information and communications technology marketplace.
  Over the past 20 years, there has been tremendous growth and 
innovation in both the communications and manufacturing industries. 
Smartphones, tablets, and other revolutionary devices come equipped 
with functionalities we could only imagine just a short time ago. In 
the midst of this innovation era, it is critical that our laws 
recognize these advancements and are updated to foster continued 
investment and opportunities for future development. The E-LABEL Act 
will facilitate this effort.
  The E-LABEL Act establishes a timeline for the FCC to move forward 
with a rulemaking to permit the use of electronic labels instead of 
physical labels to certify that devices with screens have been approved 
for commercial use. Not only will this give manufacturers greater 
flexibility to design innovative products that consumers demand, but by 
some estimates, e-labeling will save manufacturers over $80 million a 
year. Consumers will also benefit from efficiencies created by e-
labeling. E-labeling can expand consumer access to relevant device 
information and enhance the overall quality and availability of 
equipment identification records through supporting software. The E-
LABEL Act represents good policy for both manufacturers and consumers 
and should be advanced without delay.
  I thank Ranking Member Eshoo, Congressman Welch, and Congresswoman 
Blackburn for their support on this measure. I also thank Chairmen 
Upton and Walden for their continued support and leadership in 
modernizing our communication laws for the digital age. I urge my 
colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 5161, the E-LABEL Act.
  This bipartisan bill will modernize the Federal Communications 
Commission's device certification rules by eliminating the requirement 
for device manufacturers to include etched labels on the outside body 
of each electronic

[[Page H7350]]

device. Instead, device manufacturers will have the flexibility to 
display FCC certification information through software on device 
screens.
  There are numerous potential benefits to e-labeling. For example, e-
labels can provide more information to consumers than is conveyed 
today, such as details regarding the device warranties, recycling, and 
trade-in opportunities. E-labeling will also lower production costs for 
device manufacturers since affixing labels to a device can require 
significant design time and expensive equipment.
  I would also note that we should commend FCC Chairman Wheeler and his 
staff in the Office of Engineering and Technology for recently taking 
steps to update the Commission's e-labeling policies.
  By working together with the FCC, we can provide innovators with more 
flexibility and speed the delivery of new devices in the marketplace.
  I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Latta, for his leadership on this 
issue, and I urge my colleagues to join me in the support of H.R. 5161, 
the E-LABEL Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I would urge the House to support this 
legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barton). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5161.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________