COMMUNICATIONS ACT

Amendments

Crime: allow State prosecution of websites that facilitate sex trafficking, provide civil remedies for victims of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation, and clarify interactive computer services’ role in sex trafficking (H.R. 1865), S1795 [19MR], S1865 [21MR], H1301, H1302, H1304 [27FE]

——— allow State prosecution of websites that facilitate sex trafficking, provide civil remedies for victims, and clarify interactive computer services’ role in sex trafficking (H.R. 1865), consideration (H. Res. 748), H1280 [27FE]

Telephones: require multi-line telephone systems to have a default configuration that permits users to directly call 9-1-1 without dialing any additional digits or codes (H.R. 582), S615 [5FE], H992 [8FE]

Bills and resolutions

Crime: allow State prosecution of websites that facilitate sex trafficking, provide civil remedies for victims, and clarify interactive computer services’ role in sex trafficking (H.R. 1865), consideration (see H. Res. 748), H1265 [26FE]

Dept. of Justice: convene an interagency working group to study enforcement of section 227(b) of the Communications Act relative to restrictions on use of automated telephone equipment (see H.R. 7370), H10510 [20DE]

FCC: allow States and localities to adopt a one touch make ready policy for utility pole attachments in order to expedite broadband deployment (see H.R. 4858), H582 [19JA]

——— allow telecommunications carriers to use high cost universal service support to aid in restoration of telecommunications capabilities in areas which have been declared a major disaster or emergency (see H.R. 4832), H552 [18JA]

——— clarify prohibitions on making robocalls (see S. 3078), S3982 [18JN] (see H.R. 6026), H4979 [7JN]

——— conduct an annual inquiry on availability of advanced telecommunications capability in broadband deserts (see H.R. 4876), H624 [22JA]

——— designate a national dialing short code for users of mobile voice service to reach public safety personnel in critical, but non-emergency, circumstances (see H.R. 5700), H3833 [8MY]

——— ensure any required environmental reviews as a condition of permitting the placement and installation of communications facilities are limited to the areas of impact (see H. Res. 701), H553 [18JA]

——— ensure Internet openness, prohibit blocking of content, services, and devices and impairment of Internet traffic, limit authority to preempt State law, and consider Internet service to be an information service (see S. 2510), S1452 [7MR]

——— ensure Internet openness, prohibit blocking or throttling of content and devices, and paid prioritization, require transparency of network management, and classify broadband as an information service (see S. 2853), S2724 [16MY]

——— establish radiofrequency radiation site safety information database (see H.R. 7236), H9819 [10DE]

——— expand and clarify prohibition on inaccurate caller identification information and require telephone service providers to offer technology to subscribers to reduce unwanted telephone calls (see S. 2705), S2261 [18AP] (see H.R. 5573), H3441 [18AP]

——— improve enforcement and enhance penalties for violations involving illegal robocalls (see S. 3149), S4512 [27JN] (see S. 3655), S7051 [15NO] (see H.R. 7392), H10586 [21DE]

——— increase penalty for fraudulent 9-1-1 calls that result in an emergency response from law enforcement agencies (see H.R. 6003), H4776 [5JN]

——— lengthen statute of limitations for enforcing robocall violations (see S. 2694), S2261 [18AP]

——— provide a consistent local broadcast channel to provide emergency news and information in underserved States and ensure such channel can disseminate emergency warnings to broadcast stations around the State (see H.R. 6416), H6557 [18JY]

——— provide for a moratorium on telephone number reassignment after a disaster declaration (see H.R. 7131), H9525 [14NO]

——— provide for additional disclosure requirements for broadcasters that air or transmit content from registered foreign agents (see H.R. 5331), H1698 [19MR]

——— provide for greater access to in-State television broadcast programming for cable and satellite subscribers in certain counties (see S. 3232), S5066 [18JY]

——— provide for Internet openness requirements for broadband Internet access service providers (see H.R. 6393), H6462 [17JY]

——— reduce number of unlawful robocalls and unlawful spoofed calls received by consumers (see H.R. 7151), H9568 [16NO]

——— remove requirement to perform certain environmental reviews as a condition of permitting the placement and installation of communications facilities (see H.R. 4842), H553 [18JA]

——— remove requirement to perform certain environmental reviews as a condition of permitting the placement, installation, or rebuilding of communications facilities following a major disaster or emergency (see H.R. 4845), H581 [19JA]

——— repeal certain television carriage, retransmission, and ownership regulations (see H.R. 6465), H6648 [23JY]

——— require continued application of certain local broadcasting requirements to licensees even if such licensees change from a very high frequency station to an ultra high frequency station (see S. 3632), S7050 [15NO]

——— require radio and television broadcasters to provide free broadcasting time for political advertising (see H.R. 6248), H5815 [27JN]

——— require U.S.-based foreign media outlets to submit semiannual reports (see H.R. 5354), H1728 [20MR]

Internet: provide that an owner or operator of a social media service that hinders the display of user-generated content shall be treated as a publisher or speaker of such content (see H.R. 7363), H10510 [20DE]

Russia: combat subversive activities (see H.R. 6437), H6587 [19JY]

Telecommunications: require phone, cable, and Internet providers to include all charges in the prices they advertise for service and provide remedies for consumers that have been wrongfully charged (see H.R. 6987), H9405 [28SE]

Cloture motions

Crime: allow State prosecution of websites that facilitate sex trafficking, provide civil remedies for victims, and clarify interactive computer services’ role in sex trafficking (H.R. 1865), motion to proceed, S1731 [14MR], S1780 [19MR]

Letters

Allow States and Victims To Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act: Chuck Canterbury, National Fraternal Order of Police, S1829 [20MR]

——— Gina A. DeBoni, Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, S1851 [21MR]

——— several law enforcement organizations, S1829 [20MR]

——— Stephen E. Boyd, Dept. of Justice, H1297 [27FE]

——— World Without Exploitation (organization), H1298 [27FE]

Lists

Organizations and individuals supporting H.R. 1865, Allow States and Victims To Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, H1295 [27FE]

Memorandums

Allow States and Victims To Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act: Congressional Research Service, S1856 [21MR]

Motions

Crime: allow State prosecution of websites that facilitate sex trafficking, provide civil remedies for victims of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation, and clarify interactive computer services’ role in sex trafficking (H.R. 1865), S1731 [14MR], S1773 [19MR], S1801 [20MR], S1871 [21MR]

Remarks in House

Crime: allow enforcement of criminal and civil sex trafficking laws against websites that knowingly facilitate online sex trafficking, H1296, H1302–H1304 [27FE]

——— allow State prosecution of websites that facilitate sex trafficking, provide civil remedies for victims of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation, and clarify interactive computer services’ role in sex trafficking, H3130 [11AP]

——— allow State prosecution of websites that facilitate sex trafficking, provide civil remedies for victims of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation, and clarify interactive computer services’ role in sex trafficking (H.R. 1865), H1290–H1305, H1319 [27FE], H3195 [12AP]

——— allow State prosecution of websites that facilitate sex trafficking, provide civil remedies for victims, and clarify interactive computer services’ role in sex trafficking (H.R. 1865), consideration (H. Res. 748), H1277–H1280 [27FE]

FCC: ensure the integrity of voice communications and prevent discrimination among areas in the delivery of such communications by requiring providers to register and comply with basic quality standards (S. 96), H990–H992, H1002 [8FE]

——— provide for deposits of bidders in auctions of spectrum frequencies to be deposited in the Treasury, H1411 [6MR]

——— require radio and television broadcasters to provide free broadcasting time for political advertising (H.R. 6248), E935 [27JN]

GAO: conduct study on damages awarded to victims and restitution amounts imposed against defendants in cases of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation, H1291, H1304, H1305 [27FE]

Russia: combat subversive activities (H.R. 6437), H7846 [5SE]

Telephones: require multi-line telephone systems to have a default configuration that permits users to directly call 9-1-1 without dialing any additional digits or codes (H.R. 582), Senate amendment, H992–H994, H1071 [8FE]

Remarks in Senate

Crime: allow State prosecution of websites that facilitate sex trafficking, provide civil remedies for victims of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation, and clarify interactive computer services’ role in sex trafficking (H.R. 1865), S85–S87 [9JA], S1293 [28FE], S1295 [1MR], S1401 [6MR], S1660–S1662 [13MR], S1849–S1861, S1864–S1872 [21MR], S2053, S2079–S2081 [11AP]

——— allow State prosecution of websites that facilitate sex trafficking, provide civil remedies for victims of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation, and clarify interactive computer services’ role in sex trafficking (S. 1693), S53 [8JA], S85–S87 [9JA], S145 [11JA], S278 [18JA], S5100 [19JY]

——— allow State prosecution of websites that facilitate sex trafficking, provide civil remedies for victims, and clarify interactive computer services’ role in sex trafficking (H.R. 1865), motion to proceed, S1731 [14MR], S1741, S1744, S1759 [15MR], S1773, S1774, S1780–S1783 [19MR], S1799, S1801, S1807, S1816, S1827–S1830, S1833 [20MR]

——— allow State prosecution of websites that facilitate sex trafficking, provide civil remedies for victims, and clarify interactive computer services’ role in sex trafficking (H.R. 1865), unanimous-consent agreement, S1784 [19MR]

——— protect websites that attempt to moderate online sex trafficking content even if efforts are taken in bad faith, S1807 [20MR]

FCC: ensure Internet openness, prohibit blocking or throttling of content and devices, and paid prioritization, require transparency of network management, and classify broadband as an information service (S. 2853), S2699–S2701, S2708 [16MY]

——— ensure Internet openness, prohibit blocking or throttling of content and devices, and paid prioritization, require transparency of network management, and classify broadband as information service (S. 2853), unanimous-consent request, S2700, S2701 [16MY]

Telephones: require multi-line telephone systems to have a default configuration that permits users to directly call 9-1-1 without dialing any additional digits or codes (H.R. 582), S615 [5FE], S647 [6FE], S684 [7FE]

Reports filed

Allow States and Victims To Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 1865) (H. Rept. 115–572), H1220 [20FE]

Consideration of H.R. 1865, Allow States and Victims To Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 748) (H. Rept. 115–583), H1265 [26FE]

Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 1693) (S. Rept. 115–199), S138 [10JA]

Statements

Allow States and Victims To Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act: John F. Clark, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, H1298 [27FE]

——— Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook, Inc., H1295 [27FE]

Texts of

H. Res. 748, consideration of H.R. 1865, Allow States and Victims To Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, H1277 [27FE]

H.R. 1865, Allow States and Victims To Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, H1301 [27FE]

S. 96, Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act, H990 [8FE]