[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.
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