WASHINGTON, DC - The Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, chaired by Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), has scheduled a markup for Monday, April 18, 2016, at 5 p.m. in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building to consider several bills that improve Americans’ access to pubic safety, improve spectrum efficiency, bring broadband to skilled nursing facilities, and limit spending in the FCC’s Lifeline program. Members will convene for opening statements only on Monday, and reconvene on Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
Members will consider the following bills:
H.R. 2031, Anti-Swatting Act of 2015, authored by committee member Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), would;
* Create enhanced penalties for those who use false or misleading caller ID information to trigger a response by law enforcement agencies, known as “swatters."
H.R. 3998, Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act, authored by Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), would;
* Create requirements for mobile service providers during emergencies to ensure that consumers have access to networks during disasters, and requires the FCC and GAO to examine the resiliency of networks during these events. In addition, it amends the Stafford Act to ensure all categories of communications service providers may access disaster sites to restore service.
H.R. 4111, Rural Health Care Connectivity Act of 2015, authored by committee member Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ), would;
* Allow skilled nursing facilities to apply for Universal Service funding for communications services used to provide health care in rural communities.
H.R. 4167, Kari’s Law Act of 2015, authored by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), would;
* Require that any multi-line telephone system connects directly to 911 when dialed, even in instances where the phone requires the user to dial “9" to get an outside line.
H.R. 4190, Spectrum Challenge Prize of 2015, authored by committee member Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA), would;
* Create a prize program through NTIA to award up to $5 million to participants who develop groundbreaking solutions to maximize spectrum efficiency.
H.R. 4884, the CURB Lifeline Act, authored by Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), would;
* Reform the FCC’s Lifeline subsidy program by capping the fund at $1.5 billion, prohibiting the use of the subsidy for devices, and phasing out the subsidy for voice only service for mobile.
H.R. 4889, the Kelsey Smith Act, authored by Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-KS), would;
* Require telecommunications carriers to share location data if law enforcement believes that someone is in danger of death or serious harm.
“Collectively, these important bills seek to improve the way our communications laws work, and better reflect modern technology and consumer expectations," said Chairman Walden. “They are examples of the productive bipartisan work that our committee is known for. We had a good hearing on these bills yesterday, and look forward to further examination and consideration next week."
Electronic copies of the bills can be found on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s website here. A background memorandum, amendments, and votes will be available at the same link as they are posted.
See Also
* #SubCommTech Clears 7 Bills That Prioritize Public Safety & FCC Oversight
