TELEPHONES

Amendments

Consumers: eliminate automatic removal of telephone numbers on the Federal ``do-not-call'' registry (S. 2096), S15776, S15788, S15789 [17DE]

Bills and resolutions

Advertising: prohibit deceptive altering or disguising of caller identification on outbound telephone calls (see S. 704), S2355 [28FE] (see S. 1654), S7887 [19JN] (see H.R. 251), H120 [5JA] (see H.R. 740), H1149 [31JA]

Armed Forces: allow termination of telecommunications contracts entered into before notice of a permanent change of station or deployment orders (see H.R. 3786), H11394 [9OC]

———improve diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury in members and former members and expand Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs telehealth and telemental health programs (see S. 1065), S4161 [29MR] (see H.R. 3051), H7851 [16JY]

———provide relief relative to contracts for cellular phone service (see S. 1313), S5655 [7MY]

Business and industry: require employees at call centers who initiate or receive telephone calls to disclose physical location of such employees (see H.R. 1776), H3358 [29MR]

Civil liberties: expand approval time for court orders permitting already executed surveillance of certain calls and ensure Supreme Court review of Terrorist Surveillance Program (see S. 187), S41 [4JA]

Communications Act: reform universal service provisions (see H.R. 2054), H4203 [26AP]

———update and reinvigorate universal service (see S. 101), S38 [4JA]

Consumers: eliminate automatic removal of telephone numbers on the Federal ``do-not-call'' registry (see S. 2096), S12141 [26SE] (see H.R. 3541), H10433 [17SE]

———facilitate number portability in order to increase consumer choice of voice service provider (see S. 1769), S9019 [11JY] (see H.R. 3482), H10245 [6SE]

———provide for greater disclosure to, and empowerment of, consumers who have entered into a contract for cellular telephone service (see S. 2033), S11269 [7SE]

———require accurate and reasonable disclosure of the terms and conditions of prepaid telephone calling cards and services (see H.R. 3402), H9706 [3AU]

Copyrights: promote innovation, encourage introduction of new technology, enhance library preservation efforts, and protect fair use rights of consumers (see H.R. 1201), H1967 [27FE]

Courts: provide for the substitution of the U.S. in place of any electronic communications service company in certain civil actions involving Presidentially authorized surveillance (see S. 2402), S14700 [3DE]

Crime: increase the maximum penalty for telemarketing fraud targeting senior citizens (see H.R. 605), H834 [22JA]

———prohibit the unauthorized sale or acquisition of confidential telephone records (see S. 92), S38 [4JA] (see H.R. 852), H1271 [6FE] (see H.R. 936), H1414 [8FE]

———provide penalties for the misuse of robocalls (see H.R. 1383), H2301 [7MR]

Dept. of the Treasury: provide grants to States, local governments, and nonprofit organizations for education programs on predatory lending and establish a toll-free number for complaints (see H.R. 3133), H8292 [23JY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: award a grant to a private, nonprofit entity to establish, publicize, and operate a national toll-free suicide prevention telephone hotline targeted to and staffed by veterans (see H.R. 2219), H4628 [8MY]

Electronics: require mobile phones containing digital cameras to make a sound when a photograph is taken (see H.R. 3488), H10245 [6SE]

Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act: require contact lens sellers to provide a toll-free telephone number and a dedicated e-mail address in order to receive communications from prescribers (see H.R. 2012), H4050 [24AP]

FBI: place reasonable limitations on the use of national security letters (see S. 2088), S12054 [25SE]

FCC: adopt regulations to protect subscribers to Internet protocol telephone services concerning the use of such services with alarm, security, and personal emergency response systems (see H.R. 2725), H6438 (see H.R. 2725), H6475 [14JN]

———establish uniform national customer and consumer protection rules for providers of wireless telecommunications services (see S. 2171), S12936 [16OC]

———prescribe rules regulating inmate telephone service rates (see H.R. 555), H758 [18JA]

———reevaluate band plans for certain frequencies and reconfigure them to include spectrum to be licensed for small geographic areas (see S. 1622), S7730 [14JN]

Federal agencies and departments: require inclusion of address and phone number on any agency stationery (see H.R. 2324), H5053 [15MY]

Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council: establish a telephone number that consumers with complaints or inquiries could call and be routed to the appropriate Federal or State banking agency (see H.R. 4332), H14493 (see H.R. 4332), H15207 [6DE]

FTC: extend authority to collect ``do-not-call'' registry fees (see S. 781), S2694 [6MR] (see H.R. 2601), H6110 [6JN]

———issue new rules preventing telemarketing firms from calling during certain hours (see H.R. 1652), H2956 [22MR]

———revise ``do-not-call'' registry regulations to prohibit politically-oriented recorded message telephone calls (see H.R. 248), H120 [5JA] (see H.R. 372), H341 [10JA] (see H.R. 479), H571 [16JA] (see H.R. 4298), H14250 [5DE]

Information services: facilitate nationwide availability of 2-1-1 telephone service for information and referral on human services (see S. 211), S282 [9JA] (see H.R. 211), H117 [5JA]

Intelligence services: reiterate that certain statutes are the exclusive means by which domestic electronic surveillance may be conducted (see H.R. 11), H110 [5JA]

Law enforcement: establish a pilot program for police departments to use anonymous texts from citizens to augment their anonymous tip hotlines (see S. 2046), S11504 [12SE]

National 9-1-1 Education Month: designate (see H. Res. 537), H7656 [11JY]

Political campaigns: clarify disclosure requirements of identifying information within certain campaign communications (see H.R. 894), H1343 [7FE]

———require disclosure of certain information by persons conducting phone banks during campaigns for Federal office (see H.R. 1298), H2120 [1MR] (see H.R. 1452), H2399 [9MR]

Privacy: prohibit certain disclosures of cell phone numbers (see H.R. 3789), H11394 [9OC]

Public welfare programs: continue in effect and expand the Lifeline Assistance Program and the Link Up Program (see H.R. 42), H112 [5JA]

States: restrict from imposing a new discriminatory tax on cell phone services (see H.R. 436), H513 [12JA]

Subways: require providers of wireless telephone services to provide access to the universal emergency telephone number in subterranean subway stations located within their area of coverage (see H.R. 2972), H7489 [10JY]

Supreme Court: expedite review of National Security Agency warrantless electronic surveillance program (see S. 139), S39 [4JA]

Taxation: prohibit any State from imposing a new discriminatory tax on cell phone services (see S. 166), S40 [4JA]

———provide an extension for filing a refund for the excise tax on toll telephone service and provide for a safe harbor for businesses claiming such a refund (see S. 1123), S4599 [17AP]

———repeal excise tax on telephone use and other communications services (see S. 140), S39 (see S. 170), S40 [4JA] (see H.R. 1194), H1967 [27FE]

Technology: facilitate rapid deployment of IP-enabled 911 and E-911 services, encourage transition to a national IP-enabled emergency network and improve 911 and E-911 access to those with disabilities (see H.R. 3403), H9706 [3AU]

Telecommunications: bridge the digital divide in rural areas (see H.R. 3428), H9707 [3AU]

———ensure privacy of wireless telephone numbers (see S. 2361), S14488 [15NO]

———expand contribution base and establish separate fund within the universal service fund to support deployment of broadband services in unserved areas (see S. 711), S2355 [28FE]

———improve communications interoperability for emergency response (see H.R. 338), H252 [9JA]

———protect privacy rights of subscribers to wireless communication services (see S. 2454), S15233 [12DE]

———require rate integration for wireless interstate toll charges (see H.R. 3565), H10509 [18SE]

Universal Service Administration Co.: exempt from Antideficiency Act accounting rules to improve administration of, and prevent increases in, contributions to the Universal Service Fund (see S. 609), S2022 [15FE] (see H.R. 278), H121 [5JA]

Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act: amend (see S. 428), S1326 [30JA]

Letters

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court orders authorizing the collection of communications by suspected terrorists: Alberto R. Gonzales, Attorney General, S646 [17JA]

Grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies in certain civil actions involving Presidentially authorized surveillance: Senator Reid, S15765 [17DE]

Heroes at Home Act: John Melia, Wounded Warrior Project (organization), S4206 [29MR]

———Norbert R. Ryan, Jr., Military Officers Association of America, S4206 [29MR]

———Susan H. Connors, Brain Injury Association of America, S4206 [29MR]

———Tanna K. Schmidli, National Military Family Association, Inc., S4206 [29MR]

———Thomas R. Swift, American Academy of Neurology, S4206 [29MR]

Presidential authorization of electronic surveillance of certain U.S. citizens without court-approved warrants: Senator Specter, Committee on the Judiciary (Senate), S15719 [17DE]

———Vice President Cheney, S15720 [17DE]

Prohibit deceptive altering or disguising of caller identification on outbound telephone calls: Richard A. Hertling, Dept. of Justice, S7895 [19JN]

Remarks in House

Advertising: prohibit deceptive altering or disguising of caller identification on outbound telephone calls (H.R. 251), H6257-H6260 [12JN], E1286 [13JN]

———prohibit deceptive altering or disguising of caller identification on outbound telephone calls (H.R. 740), H2790-H2793 [21MR], E620 [23MR]

Armed Forces: ensure that toll-free hot line for reporting deficiencies at medical-related support facilities offer confidentiality to the caller, H3226, H3227 [28MR]

Consumers: eliminate automatic removal of telephone numbers on the Federal ``do-not-call'' registry (H.R. 3541), H15267-H15269 [11DE], E2553 [12DE]

———require accurate and reasonable disclosure of the terms and conditions of prepaid telephone calling cards and services (H.R. 3402), E1764 [4AU]

Copyrights: promote innovation, encourage introduction of new technology, enhance library preservation efforts, and protect fair use rights of consumers (H.R. 1201), E407 [27FE]

Dept. of Commerce: National Telecommunications and Information Administration funding through reductions in Dept. of Justice funding, H8437, H8438 [25JY]

Federal agencies and departments: require inclusion of address and phone number on any agency stationery, H8235 [23JY]

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: modernize, H4781, H4785, H4883 [10MY]

FTC: extend authority to collect ``do-not-call'' registry fees (H.R. 2601), H15265, H15267 [11DE], E2553 [12DE]

Information services: facilitate nationwide availability of 2-1-1 telephone service for information and referral on human services (H.R. 211), E14, E22 [5JA]

Intelligence services: reiterate that certain statutes are the exclusive means by which domestic electronic surveillance may be conducted, H4904, H4905 [10MY]

———reiterate that certain statutes are the exclusive means by which domestic electronic surveillance may be conducted (H.R. 11), H11652 [17OC]

National 9-1-1 Education Month: designate (H. Res. 537), E1493 [12JY]

National Security Agency: Presidential authorization of electronic surveillance of certain U.S. citizens without court-approved warrants, H922 [24JA], H12436 [1NO]

Political campaigns: require disclosure of certain information by persons conducting phone banks during campaigns for Federal office (H.R. 1298), E440 [1MR]

———require disclosure of certain information by persons conducting phone banks during campaigns for Federal office (H.R. 1452), E504 [9MR]

Taxation: repeal excise tax on telephone use and other communications services (H.R. 1194), E400, E410 [27FE]

Telecommunications: bridge the digital divide in rural areas (H.R. 3428), E1738 [3AU]

———improve communications interoperability for emergency response, E1013 [10MY]

———provide grants and other support to achieve communications interoperability in the U.S., H199 [9JA], E1693 [2AU]

———require rate integration for wireless interstate toll charges (H.R. 3565), E1914 [18SE]

Remarks in Senate

Advertising: prohibit deceptive altering or disguising of caller identification on outbound telephone calls (S. 1654), S7895 [19JN]

———prohibit deceptive altering or disguising of caller identification on outbound telephone calls (S. 704), S2360 [28FE]

Armed Forces: improve diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury in members and former members and expand Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs telehealth and telemental health programs (S. 1065), S4204-S4206 [29MR]

———provide relief relative to contracts for cellular phone service (S. 1313), S5923-S5925 [10MY]

Civil liberties: expand approval time for court orders permitting already executed surveillance of certain calls and ensure Supreme Court review of Terrorist Surveillance Program (S. 187), S183 [4JA]

Consumers: eliminate automatic removal of telephone numbers on the Federal ``do-not-call'' registry (S. 2096), S12145 [26SE], S12839 [15OC], S15788, S15789 [17DE]

Courts: grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies in certain civil actions involving Presidentially authorized surveillance, S15644-S15647 [14DE], S15712-S15725, S15728, S15731-S15759, S15761-S15767 [17DE], S15819 [18DE]

———provide for the substitution of the U.S. in place of any electronic communications service company in certain civil actions involving Presidentially authorized surveillance (S. 2402), S14703 [3DE], S15720 [17DE]

Dept. of Homeland Security: first responders communications interoperability grants and Emergency Management Performance Grants Program funding, S3599 [22MR]

FBI: place reasonable limitations on the use of national security letters (S. 2088), S12056 [25SE]

FCC: establish uniform national customer and consumer protection rules for providers of wireless telecommunications services (S. 2171), S12940 [16OC]

———reevaluate band plans for certain frequencies and reconfigure them to include spectrum to be licensed for small geographic areas (S. 1622), S7742 [14JN]

FTC: extend authority to collect ``do-not-call'' registry fees (S. 781), S15788 [17DE]

Information services: facilitate nationwide availability of 2-1-1 telephone service for information and referral on human services (S. 211), S286 [9JA]

National Security Agency: Presidential authorization of electronic surveillance of certain U.S. citizens without court-approved warrants, S646, S652 [17JA], S1371, S1372 [31JA]

Taxation: prohibit any State from imposing a new discriminatory tax on cell phone services (S. 166), S163 [4JA]

———exempt from Antideficiency Act accounting rules to improve administration of, and prevent increases in, contributions to the Universal Service Fund (S. 609), star print, S2285 [27FE]

Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom (business): tribute, S225 [8JA]

Reports filed

Do-Not-Call Improvement Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 2096) (S. Rept. 110-246), S15233 [12DE]

———Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 3541) (H. Rept. 110-486), H15314 [11DE]

Do-Not-Call Registry Fee Extension Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 781) (S. Rept. 110-244), S15233 [12DE]

———Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 2601) (H. Rept. 110-485), H15314 [11DE]

IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 428) (S. Rept. 110-142), S10901 [3AU]

911 Modernization and Public Safety Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 3403) (H. Rept. 110-442), H13858 [13NO]

Preventing Harassment Through Outbound Number Enforcement (PHONE) Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 740) (H. Rept. 110-37), H2339 [8MR]

———Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (H.R. 740), S6842 [24MY]

Same Number Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 1769) (S. Rept. 110-219), S13725 [2NO]

Truth in Caller ID Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 704) (S. Rept. 110-234), S14786 [5DE]

———Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 251) (H. Rept. 110-188), H6234 [11JN]

Summaries

Freedom and Innovation Revitalizing U.S. Entrepreneurship Act (H.R. 1201), E408 [27FE]

Testimonies

Cellular Phone Service Contract Relief for Mobilized Military Personnel: Melissa Inlow, S5925 [10MY]

Texts of

H.R. 251, Truth in Caller ID Act, H6257 [12JN]

H.R. 740, Preventing Harassment Through Outbound Number Enforcement (PHONE) Act, H2790 [21MR]

H.R. 2601, Do-Not-Call Registry Fee Extension Act, H15265 [11DE]

H.R. 3403, 911 Modernization and Public Safety Act, H13554 [13NO]

H.R. 3541, Do-Not-Call Improvement Act, H15267 [11DE]

S. 187, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Oversight and Resource Enhancement Act, S184 [4JA]

S. 704, Truth in Caller ID Act, S2361 [28FE]

S. 781, Do-Not-Call Registry Fee Extension Act, S15788 [17DE]

S. 1654, prohibit deceptive altering or disguising of caller identification on outbound telephone calls, S7895 [19JN]

S. 2088, National Security Letter (NSL) Reform Act, S12057-S12063 [25SE]

S. 2096, Do-Not-Call Improvement Act, S12145 [26SE], S15789 [17DE]