TELEPHONES

Amendments

FCC: improve enforcement and enhance penalties for violations involving illegal robocalls (S. 151), S3075 [23MY]

Bills and resolutions

Armed Forces: allow families of fallen and critically-injured servicemembers to terminate their telephone, cable, satellite television, and Internet access service contracts without penalty (see S. 2963), S6824 [3DE] (see H.R. 4356), H7753 [17SE]

Bureau of Prisons: improve treatment of Federal prisoners who are primary caretaker parents (see S. 992), S2189 [2AP] (see H.R. 2034), H2985 [2AP]

CDC: conduct a national suicide prevention media campaign and establish National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (see H.R. 4585), H8088 [1OC]

Crime: penalize false communications to cause an emergency response (see H.R. 1772), H2743 [14MR]

Dept. of Agriculture: make Rural Utilities Service grants for collection of broadband infrastructure data by local governments, community organizations, electric or telephone cooperatives, and small Internet providers (see S. 3094), S7156 [18DE] (see H.R. 4642), H8110 [11OC]

Dept. of Commerce: prepare and submit reports to Congress on role of telecommunications in hate crimes (see S. 917), S2043 [27MR] (see H.R. 1934), H2885 [27MR]

——— study and report on processes of international standards-setting relative to Internet-connected devices (see H.R. 3811), H5999 [17JY]

——— study and report on the state of the Internet-connected devices industry (see H.R. 2644), H3679 [9MY]

Dept. of HHS: authorize grants to establish a national network of statewide legal hotlines for senior citizens (see S. 905), S2043 [27MR]

——— establish a national telehealth program (see S. 2408), S5249 [31JY] (see H.R. 4900), H8594 [29OC]

——— reauthorize and enhance poison center national toll-free number, media campaign, and grant program (see H.R. 501), H517 [11JA]

Dept. of Homeland Security: place restrictions on searches and seizures of electronic devices at the border by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (see S. 2694), S6155 [24OC]

Dept. of Justice: convene an interagency working group to study enforcement of Communications Act provisions relative to restrictions on use of automated telephone equipment (see H.R. 721), H1170 [23JA]

——— incentivize hate crime reporting, provide grants for State-run hate crime hotlines, and establish private rights of action for victims and additional penalties for certain hate crime convictions (see S. 2043), S4629 [27JN] (see H.R. 3545), H5256 [27JN]

Dept. of Labor: list employers that relocate call centers overseas, make such companies ineligible for Federal grants and loans, and require call center employees to disclose their physical location (see S. 1792), S3362 [12JN] (see H.R. 3219), H4626 [12JN]

Dept. of Transportation: create supplemental grants to States for distracted driving prevention and provide States applying for such grants an explanation of the eligibility decision (see H.R. 2416), H3339 [30AP]

——— establish a distracted driving education grant program (see H.R. 3009), H4164 [23MY]

FCC: add access to telecommunication and information services in Indian country and areas with high Indian population to the universal service principle (see H.R. 4449), H7865 [20SE]

——— allow State or Federal correctional facilities to utilize jamming equipment to prevent contraband cell phone use in prisons (see S. 952), S2088 [28MR] (see H.R. 1954), H2915 [28MR]

——— carry out a pilot program under which voice service providers could block certain automated calls (see S. 2204), S5011 [23JY]

——— clarify acceptable 9-1-1 obligations or expenditures relative to wireless communications (see H.R. 2165), H3216 [9AP]

——— clarify prohibitions on making robocalls (see H.R. 946), H1348 [4FE] (see H.R. 3375), H5005 [20JN]

——— collect and maintain data on growth in use of Internet of Things devices and devices that use fifth generation (5G) mobile networks to determine amount of electromagnetic spectrum needed for such use (see H.R. 3789), H5998 [17JY]

——— designate 3-digit dialing code for veterans in crisis (see S. 2003), S4627 [27JN]

——— designate 9-8-8 as universal telephone number for national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system operated through National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line (see S. 2661), S5965 [22OC] (see H.R. 4194), H7510 [20AU]

——— ensure just and reasonable charges for telephone and advanced communications services in correctional and detention facilities (see S. 1764), S3284 [10JN]

——— establish advisory committee to develop best practices relative to combating unlawful robocalls made to hospitals and how hospitals can protect themselves from such calls (see H.R. 3780), H5911 [16JY]

——— establish national standard to determine comparability of mobile and broadband services provided in rural versus urban areas (see S. 1515), S2924 [16MY]

——— establish Office of Rural Broadband (see S. 454), S1275 [12FE]

——— establish Office of Rural Telecommunications (see H.R. 2601), H3501 [8MY]

——— establish within Enforcement Bureau a division that specifically addresses the issue of robocalls (see S. 1239), S2515 [30AP] (see H.R. 2355), H3283 [25AP]

——— expand and clarify prohibition on inaccurate caller identification information and require telephone service providers to offer technology to subscribers to reduce unwanted telephone calls and text messages (see S. 1212), S2435 [11AP] (see H.R. 2298), H3263 [12AP]

——— expand private right of action for telephone consumers to petition for statutory damages for unwanted, illegal robocalls (see S. 1241), S2515 [30AP] (see H.R. 3605), H5265 [28JN]

——— facilitate a spectrum pipeline for commercial use and require a portion of proceeds from spectrum auctions to go to wireless broadband infrastructure buildout in unserved and underserved rural areas (see S. 2223), S5012 [23JY]

——— improve enforcement and enhance penalties for violations involving illegal robocalls (see S. 151), S273 [16JA] (see S. 1826), S3475 [13JN] (see H.R. 1602), H2582 [7MR] (see H.R. 2015), H2938 [1AP] (see H.R. 3810), H5999 [17JY]

——— improve oversight of wireless and broadcast emergency alert systems (see S. 2693), S6155 [24OC] (see H.R. 4856), H8462 [24OC]

——— include public safety requirements in terms and conditions States may require of mobile services (see H.R. 3836), H7150 [18JY]

——— increase existing penalties for provision of misleading or inaccurate caller identification information and extend statute of limitations for forfeiture penalties for persons who commit such violations (see S. 2147), S4907 [17JY]

——— increase penalties for violations involving robocalls, spoofing, and telemarketing (see H.R. 3707), H5726 [11JY]

——— increase penalty for fraudulent 9-1-1 calls that result in an emergency response from law enforcement agencies (see H.R. 156), H207 [3JA]

——— initiate a proceeding to protect called parties from one-ring scams (see H.R. 3264), H4694 [13JN]

——— lengthen statute of limitations for enforcing robocall violations (see H.R. 1575), H2504 [6MR]

——— make grants to States to inform Medicaid enrollees and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants of potential eligibility for Lifeline program (see S. 2545), S5706 [25SE] (see H.R. 4529), H8053 [26SE]

——— prohibit debt collectors from making robocalls to individuals’ cell phones (see S. 626), S1594 [28FE] (see H.R. 1421), H2311 [28FE]

——— promulgate regulations requiring voice service providers to provide consumers opt-out call-blocking programs by default and free of charge (see S. 2431), S5311 [1AU]

——— protect funding for Universal Service Fund programs (see H.R. 5424), H10258 [12DE]

——— provide evidence of certain robocall violations to Dept. of Justice (see H.R. 3325), H4770 [18JN]

——— provide for a moratorium on telephone number reassignment after a disaster declaration (see H.R. 1289), H2032 [14FE]

——— provide for an auction of C-Band spectrum (see S. 2921), S6718 [20NO] (see H.R. 4855), H8462 [24OC]

——— provide for an auction of C-Band spectrum and deposit proceeds in a Digital Divide Trust Fund to be used for rural broadband, public safety, education, and health care (see S. 2956), S6756 [21NO]

——— provide for information sharing on robocall and spoofing violations, authorize provision of a robocall blocking service, and study information requirements for certain VoIP service providers (see H.R. 2386), H3303 [29AP]

——— publish an annual report on suspected unlawful robocalls (see H.R. 3434), H5075 [24JN]

——— require telecommunications carriers to provide call location information to law enforcement during emergencies (see S. 273), S769 [30JA] (see H.R. 1818), H2754 [18MR]

——— restore local authority to regulate fifth generation (5G) telecommunications equipment deployment and determine how much wireless carriers would pay to use public phone and utility poles (see S. 2012), S4628 [27JN]

——— streamline siting processes for small cell infrastructure deployment (see S. 1699), S3164 [3JN]

——— update reporting requirements to include all Telephone Consumer Protection Act complaints and enforcement actions relative to robocalls and spoofed phone calls (see S. 819), S1898 [14MR]

FCC/FTC: establish a joint robocaller bounty pilot program (see H.R. 1304), H2038 [15FE]

FTC: eliminate common carrier exemption for telecommunications companies in order to allow investigation of companies that enable illegal robocalling (see S. 2349), S5247 [31JY]

——— establish Office for the Prevention of Fraud Targeting Seniors (see S. 512), S1383 [14FE] (see H.R. 2301), H3263 [12AP]

——— revise ‘‘do-not-call’’ registry regulations to prohibit politically-oriented recorded message telephone calls (see H.R. 805), H1242 [28JA]

GAO: conduct a study and submit a report on filing requirements under the Universal Service Fund program (see S. 161), S273 [16JA] (see H.R. 711), H997 [22JA]

Information technology: deem development and deployment of fifth generation (5G) wireless technology a national priority and support FCC efforts to make spectrum commercially available (see S. Res. 259), S4456 [24JN]

——— establish an app ratings board to enforce age and content ratings of apps on Internet-ready devices and call on technology companies to implement parental controls on devices used by minors (see H. Res. 721), H9121 [20NO]

——— preempt State and local encryption laws to ensure a uniform, national policy for interstate issue of encryption technology (see H.R. 4170), H7492 [6AU]

Infrastructure: improve through investment in broadband, water systems, clean energy, brownfield redevelopment, and health care projects (see H.R. 2741), H3840 [15MY]

Medicare: expand access to telehealth services (see S. 2741), S6299 [30OC] (see H.R. 4932), H8678 [30OC]

Mental health: ensure provision of high-quality service through National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (see H.R. 4564), H8080 [27SE]

National 9-1-1 Education Month: designate (see S. Res. 131), S2088 [28MR]

National Security Agency: repeal authority to access on an ongoing basis business records for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations (see S. 936), S2087 [28MR] (see H.R. 1942), H2914 [28MR]

National Telecommunications and Information Administration: establish a mobile hotspot grant program (see H.R. 5243), H9168 [21NO]

——— further deployment of Next Generation 9-1-1 services to enhance and upgrade the Nation’s 9-1-1 systems (see S. 1479), S2883 [15MY] (see H.R. 2760), H3841 [15MY]

NIH: study health and developmental effects of technology and media on infants, children, and adolescents (see S. 558), S1492 [26FE] (see H.R. 1367), H2233 [26FE]

Office of the Director of National Intelligence: carry out a prize competition to stimulate research and development relevant to fifth generation (5G) technology (see H.R. 3679), H5583 [10JY]

——— submit report on fifth generation (5G) wireless network technology (see H.R. 3678), H5583 [10JY]

OMB: reclassify public safety telecommunicators (9-1-1 operators and dispatchers) as ‘‘protective service occupations’’ within the Standard Occupational Classification system (see S. 1015), S2240 [3AP] (see H.R. 1629), H2583 [7MR]

Privacy: protect digital contents of electronic equipment and online accounts of U.S. persons entering or exiting the U.S. by requiring law enforcement to obtain a warrant based on probable cause to search or seize a device (see S. 1606), S3059 [22MY] (see H.R. 2925), H4118 [22MY]

SEC: revise shareholder threshold for registration under Securities Exchange Act for issuers that receive support through certain Federal universal service support mechanisms (see S. 1502), S2923 [16MY]

Senate: authorize Sergeant at Arms to protect personal technology devices and accounts of Senators and covered employees from cyber attacks and hostile information collection activities (see S. 890), S2042 [27MR]

Telecommunications: prohibit the President or a Federal agency from constructing, operating, or offering wholesale or retail services on broadband networks without authorization from Congress (see S. 918), S2043 [27MR] (see H.R. 2063), H3067 [3AP]

——— 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 S. 510), S1383 [14FE] (see H.R. 1220), H2029 [14FE]

World War I: award a Congressional Gold Medal to female telephone operators of the Army Signal Corps, known as ‘‘Hello Girls’’ (see S. 206), S586 [24JA] (see H.R. 1953), H2915 [28MR]

Letters

Stopping Bad Robocalls Act: Nancy A. LeaMond, AARP (organization), H7301 [24JY]

——— several consumer organizations, H7302 [24JY]

Motions

FCC: improve enforcement and enhance penalties for violations involving illegal robocalls (S. 151), S7177 [19DE]

Notices

Estimated budget effects of H.R. 3375, Stopping Bad Robocalls Act, H7375 [24JY]

Intention to object to S. 918, Eliminate From Regulators Opportunities To Nationalize the Internet in Every Respect (E-FRONTIER) Act: Senator Wyden, S5262 [31JY]

Questions and answers

OMB reclassification of public safety telecommunicators (9-1-1 operators and dispatchers) as ‘‘protective service occupations’’ within the Standard Occupational Classification system: BLS, H5631 [11JY]

Remarks in House

Armed Forces: allow families of fallen and critically-injured servicemembers to terminate their telephone, cable, satellite television, and Internet access service contracts without penalty (H.R. 4356), H8757, H8758 [12NO]

Dept. of Agriculture: make Rural Utilities Service grants for collection of broadband infrastructure data by local governments, community organizations, electric or telephone cooperatives, and small Internet providers (H.R. 4642), H8152 [16OC]

Dept. of HHS: reauthorize and enhance poison center national toll-free number, media campaign, and grant program (H.R. 501), H2052, H2053 [25FE]

——— report on use of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act user fees to fund outreach and enrollment, navigator program, and maintenance of Healthcare.gov and its call centers, H3897 [16MY]

——— Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Suicide Prevention Lifeline geolocation services feasibility study funding, H4607, H4608 [12JN]

Dept. of Homeland Security: remove or neutralize unauthorized international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catchers, H5888 [16JY]

Dept. of Justice: convene an interagency working group to study enforcement of Communications Act provisions relative to restrictions on use of automated telephone equipment, H7297, H7300, H7301 [24JY], H9242 [4DE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: address epidemic of veteran suicide, H3430 [2MY]

FCC: clarify prohibitions on making robocalls (H.R. 3375), H7292–H7303 [24JY], H7384 [25JY]

——— designate 9-8-8 as universal telephone number for national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system operated through National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line (H.R. 4194), H8152 [16OC], H9161 [21NO]

——— establish advisory committee to develop best practices relative to combating unlawful robocalls made to hospitals and how hospitals can protect themselves from such calls, H7297, H7301 [24JY]

——— expand broadband Internet access service to rural areas, H2651 [12MR], H3853 [16MY], H8148 [16OC]

——— improve enforcement and enhance penalties for violations involving illegal robocalls, H7301 [24JY]

——— improve enforcement and enhance penalties for violations involving illegal robocalls (H.R. 2015), H4013 [21MY], H8830 [14NO]

——— improve enforcement and enhance penalties for violations involving illegal robocalls (S. 151), H9227, H9235–H9245 [4DE], H9281 [5DE]

——— increase penalties for violations involving robocalls, spoofing, and telemarketing (H.R. 3707), H7384 [25JY]

——— initiate a proceeding to protect called parties from one-ring scams, H7297, H7299, H7301 [24JY], H9242, H9243 [4DE]

——— lengthen statute of limitations for enforcing robocall violations (H.R. 1575), H2655 [12MR]

——— prohibit funding to finalize rule imposing a cap on Universal Service Fund and allowing Schools and Libraries program and Rural Healthcare Support program caps to be combined, H5130 [25JN]

——— provide evidence of certain robocall violations to Dept. of Justice, H7297, H7300, H7301 [24JY], H9241, H9243 [4DE]

——— provide for information sharing on robocall and spoofing violations, authorize provision of a robocall blocking service, and study information requirements for certain VoIP service providers, H7298, H7299, H7301 [24JY], H9240, H9241 [4DE]

——— publish an annual report on suspected unlawful robocalls, H7297, H7299, H7301 [24JY], H9241, H9242, H9243 [4DE]

——— reauthorize and provide certain procedural changes to rules to maximize opportunities for public participation and efficient decisionmaking, H7298 [24JY]

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: repeal authority to access on an ongoing basis business records for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations, H7770 [18SE]

National Child Abuse Hotline: establish, H3991 [20MY]

National Domestic Violence Hotline (organization): expand to include texting features via telephone, H3061 [3AP]

National Telecommunications and Information Administration: establish a mobile hotspot grant program (H.R. 5243), E1485 [21NO]

Office of the Director of National Intelligence: require report on threat posed by unauthorized international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catchers to U.S. Government personnel and national security, H5903 [16JY]

OMB: reclassify public safety telecommunicators (9-1-1 operators and dispatchers) as ‘‘protective service occupations’’ within the Standard Occupational Classification system, H5629–H5631 [11JY]

Political campaigns: expand ban on foreign contributions and expenditures on U.S. elections to include purchasing advertisements on digital media or television, H2569 [7MR]

Telecommunications: require greater transparency in fees and services from cable and Internet providers, H2327 [5MR]

——— 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, E1577 [11DE]

Remarks in Senate

Dept. of HHS: establish a national telehealth program (S. 2408), S6383 [5NO]

FCC: allow State or Federal correctional facilities to utilize jamming equipment to prevent contraband cell phone use in prisons, S2538 [1MY]

——— designate 3-digit dialing code for veterans in crisis (S. 2003), S4688 [8JY]

——— designate 9-8-8 as universal telephone number for national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system operated through National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line (S. 2661), S6593 [14NO]

——— improve enforcement and enhance penalties for violations involving illegal robocalls (S. 151), S2298 [9AP], S3073–S3077, S3082–S3084 [23MY]

——— improve enforcement and enhance penalties for violations involving illegal robocalls (S. 151), House amendment, S6868 [5DE], S7015 [12DE], S7126 [18DE], S7176, S7177 [19DE]

——— increase existing penalties for provision of misleading or inaccurate caller identification information and extend statute of limitations for forfeiture penalties for persons who commit such violations (S. 2147), S4912 [17JY]

——— provide for an auction of C-Band spectrum, S6219, S6220 [29OC], S6642 [19NO], S6878 [5DE]

——— provide for an auction of C-Band spectrum and deposit proceeds in a Digital Divide Trust Fund to be used for rural broadband, public safety, education, and health care (S. 2956), S7129 [18DE]

——— provide for an auction of C-Band spectrum (S. 2921), S7129 [18DE]

——— require telecommunications carriers to provide call location information to law enforcement during emergencies (S. 273), S770 [30JA], S2899 [16MY]

——— streamline siting processes for small cell infrastructure deployment (S. 1699), S3173 [4JN], S6413 [6NO], S6830 [4DE], S7126 [18DE]

FTC: eliminate common carrier exemption for telecommunications companies in order to allow investigation of companies that enable illegal robocalling (S. 2349), S5252 [31JY]

Illinois Electric Cooperative: provide Internet access to rural Illinois, S6376 [5NO]

Information technology: deem development and deployment of fifth generation (5G) wireless technology a national priority and support FCC efforts to make spectrum commercially available (S. Res. 259), S6537 [13NO]

——— promote deployment of commercial fifth generation (5G) mobile networks, S6878 [5DE]

National 9-1-1 Education Month: designate (S. Res. 131), S2455 [11AP]

Senate: authorize Sergeant at Arms to protect personal technology devices and accounts of Senators and covered employees from cyber attacks and hostile information collection activities (S. 890), S2045 [27MR], S5054, S5055 [24JY]

——— authorize Sergeant at Arms to protect personal technology devices and accounts of Senators and covered employees from cyber attacks and hostile information collection activities (S. 890), unanimous-consent request, S5055 [24JY]

——— legislative priorities, S3032 [22MY]

Senior citizens: prevent mail, telemarketing, and Internet fraud targeting seniors, increase public awareness of the impact of such fraud, and provide education on how to identify and combat fraudulent activity, S6209 [29OC]

Telecommunications: prohibit the President or a Federal agency from constructing, operating, or offering wholesale or retail services on broadband networks without authorization from Congress (S. 918), S5242 [31JY]

World War I: award a Congressional Gold Medal to female telephone operators of the Army Signal Corps, known as ‘‘Hello Girls’’ (S. 206), S2598 [2MY]

Reports filed

Eliminate From Regulators Opportunities To Nationalize the Internet in Every Respect (E-FRONTIER) Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 918) (S. Rept. 116–66), S5102 [25JY]

Stopping Bad Robocalls Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 3375) (H. Rept. 116–173), H7239 [23JY]

Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 151) (S. Rept. 116–41), S3004 [21MY]

Statements

Stopping Bad Robocalls Act: several consumer and privacy organizations, H7302 [24JY]

Texts of

H.R. 501, Poison Center Network Enhancement Act, H2052 [25FE]

H.R. 3375, Stopping Bad Robocalls Act, H7293–H7296 [24JY]

H.R. 4356, Protecting Families of Fallen Servicemembers Act, H8757 [12NO]

S. 151, Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act, S276 [16JA], S3075 [23MY], H9235–H9239 [4DE]

S. 1699, Streamlining the Rapid Evolution and Modernization of Leading-Edge Infrastructure Necessary To Enhance (STREAMLINE) Small Cell Deployment Act, S3167 [3JN]

S. Res. 131, National 9-1-1 Education Month, S2093 [28MR]

S. Res. 259, deem development and deployment of fifth generation (5G) wireless technology a national priority and support FCC efforts to make spectrum commercially available, S4459 [24JN]