COMMUNICATIONS ACT

Amendments

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

Bills and resolutions

Corp. for Public Broadcasting: prohibit Federal funding after 2021 (see H.R. 3393), H5006 [20JN]

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]

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 States and localities to adopt a one touch make ready policy for utility pole attachments in order to expedite broadband deployment (see H.R. 2784), H3923 [16MY]

——— authorize a reverse auction to help fund deployment of high-speed Internet (see H.R. 3278), H4694 [13JN]

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

——— conduct an annual inquiry on availability of advanced telecommunications capability in broadband deserts (see H.R. 55), H203 [3JA]

——— 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]

——— enhance ability of direct broadcast satellite providers to offer additional local broadcast services to consumers under limited circumstances (see S. 2829), S6475 [7NO] (see H.R. 5025), H8739 [8NO]

——— 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 H.R. 2136), H3128 [8AP]

——— 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 H.R. 1101), H1461 [7FE]

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

——— establish Telecommunications Workforce Development Advisory Council (see S. 2363), S5247 [31JY] (see H.R. 3255), H4693 [13JN]

——— 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]

——— extend certain expiring provisions relative to retransmission of signals of television broadcast stations (see S. 2789), S6447 [6NO] (see H.R. 5035), H8782 [12NO]

——— 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]

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

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

——— make certain portions of electromagnetic spectrum available for allocation and auction (see S. 2881), S6625 [18NO]

——— make grants to establish or expand job training programs for communications tower service, construction, and maintenance (see H.R. 1848), H2761 [21MR]

——— 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 additional disclosure requirements for broadcasters that air or transmit content from registered foreign agents (see H.R. 3698), H5725 [11JY]

——— 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 greater access to in-State television broadcast programming for cable and satellite subscribers in certain counties (see S. 2454), S5407 [10SE]

——— 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]

——— provide for Internet openness requirements for broadband Internet access service providers (see H.R. 1006), H1390 [6FE] (see H.R. 1096), H1461 [7FE]

——— reinstate obligation of broadcast licensees to afford reasonable opportunity for discussion of conflicting views on issues of public importance, commonly known as the Fairness Doctrine (see H.R. 4401), H7834 [19SE]

——— remove requirement to perform certain environmental reviews as a condition of permitting placement, installation, or rebuilding of communications facilities following a major disaster or emergency (see S. 2645), S5896 [17OC] (see H.R. 4741), H8257 [18OC]

——— require cable operators and broadband Internet service providers subject to State fines to report on number of customers, average bills, fees charged, and average Internet speeds delivered in each county (see H.R. 1555), H2503 [6MR]

——— 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. 941), S2087 [28MR]

——— require multichannel video programming distributors to carry rural video programming (see H.R. 2682), H3727 [10MY]

——— require radio and television broadcasters to provide free broadcasting time for political advertising (see H.R. 896), H1334 [30JA]

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

——— take certain actions to increase diversity of ownership in the broadcasting industry (see H.R. 3957), H7462 [25JY]

——— update television broadcasting regulations relative to cable operator negotiations, blackouts, retransmission, copyright licenses, binding arbitration, and local programming access (see H.R. 3994), H7463 [25JY]

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. 492), H517 [11JA]

Public broadcasting: prohibit Federal funding of National Public Radio and use of Federal funds to acquire radio content (see H.R. 3392), H5006 [20JN]

Real estate: ensure short-term rental companies and Internet platforms comply with State and local law relative to leasing and renting of real property (see H.R. 4232), H7535 [6SE]

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

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]

Remarks in House

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, H12258 [19DE]

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]

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]

——— extend certain expiring provisions relative to retransmission of signals of television broadcast stations (H.R. 5035), H9960, H9961 [10DE], E1577 [11DE]

——— 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]

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

——— 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]

——— require radio and television broadcasters to provide free broadcasting time for political advertising (H.R. 896), E114 [30JA]

——— update television broadcasting regulations relative to cable operator negotiations, blackouts, retransmission, copyright licenses, binding arbitration, and local programming access (H.R. 3994), E1577 [11DE]

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, E1577 [11DE]

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, S1666 [5MR]

FCC: 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]

——— extend certain expiring provisions relative to retransmission of signals of television broadcast stations (S. 2789), S6645 [19NO]

——— 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]

——— make certain portions of electromagnetic spectrum available for allocation and auction (S. 2881), S7129 [18DE]

——— 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]

Reports filed

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]

Television Viewer Protection Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 5035) (H. Rept. 116–329), H9386 [9DE]

Statements

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

Texts of

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

H.R. 5035, Television Viewer Protection Act, H9960 [10DE]

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