Washington, D.C. - Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA) announced today that the Communications and Technology Subcommittee will hold a markup on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 11:30 am, in the John D. Dingell Room, 2123 Rayburn House Office Building.
“This week, we will consider legislation that will fix our broadband maps, make the best use of our nation’s airwaves, and protect consumers by securing our communications networks," Pallone and Doyle said. “We will also markup legislation to reauthorize our media laws and provide greater transparency and rights to consumers, who face confusing and higher bills for communications services."
The Communications and Technology Subcommittee will consider:
H.R. 4229, the "Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act" or the “Broadband DATA Act," was introduced by Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Bob Latta (R-OH). This legislation requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue new rules to require the collection and dissemination of granular broadband availability data and to establish a process to verify the accuracy of such data, and more.
H.R. 4227, the "Mapping Accuracy Promotion Services Act" or the “MAPS Act," was introduced by Reps. A. Donald McEachin (D-VA) and Billy Long (R-MO). This legislation specifies that it is unlawful for a person to willfully, knowingly, or recklessly submit inaccurate broadband service data.
H.R. 5000, the "Studying How to Harness Airwave Resources Efficiently Act of 2019" or the “SHARE Act," was introduced by Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Doyle (D-PA) and Subcommittee Ranking Member Bob Latta (R-OH). This legislation requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), in consultation with FCC, to establish a spectrum sharing prototyping program and test bed to explore new ways for Federal entities to share spectrum with other Federal entities, and more.
H.R. 4998, the "Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019," was introduced by Chairman Pallone (D-NJ), Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR), and Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY). This legislation instructs FCC to develop and maintain a list of communications equipment and services that pose an unacceptable risk to national security and prohibits the use of funds made available by FCC programs to purchase, rent, lease, or otherwise obtain such equipment and services. The bill also establishes the Secure and Trusted Communications Reimbursement Program to assist communications providers with the costs of removing prohibited equipment and services from their networks and replacing prohibited equipment with more secure communications equipment and services.
H.R. 4461, the "Network Security Information Sharing Act of 2019," was introduced by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Doyle (D-PA). This legislation directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, in cooperation with the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, NTIA, and FCC, to establish a program to share supply chain security risks with advanced communications service providers and trusted suppliers of telecommunications equipment and services.
H.R. 2881, the "Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2019," was introduced by Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Francis Rooney (R-FL), Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), and Susan Brooks (R-IN). This legislation directs the President to develop the "Secure Next Generation Mobile Communications Strategy" in consultation with the heads of FCC, NTIA, and Department of Homeland Security, as well as the DNI and Secretary of Defense.
H.R. 4500, the "Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2019," was introduced by Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI). This legislation directs NTIA to encourage participation by trusted American companies and other stakeholders in standards-setting bodies, and to offer technical assistance to stakeholders that do elect to participate, in the course of developing standards for 5G networks and future generations of communications networks.
H. Res. 575, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that all stakeholders in the deployment of 5G communications infrastructure should carefully consider and adhere to the recommendations adopted at the Prague 5G security conferences known as "the Prague Proposals," was introduced by Reps. Bill Flores (R-TX) and Darren Soto (D-FL). The resolution also encourages the President and Federal agencies to promote trade and security policies on the international stage that are consistent with "The Prague Proposals."
H.R. 5035, the “Television Viewer Protection Act," was introduced by Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Doyle. This legislation extends for five years the “good faith" negotiation provisions and allows for the importation of distant signals to unserved households as authorized under the statutory license in Section 119 of the Copyright Act. The Television Viewer Protection Act allows smaller Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (MVPDs) to collectively negotiate for retransmission consent with large broadcasters. Additionally, it requires MVPDs, internet service providers, and telephone providers (both fixed and mobile) to include all charges in the prices they advertise and bill for services. Lastly, the bill requires greater transparency in electronic bills and provides remedies to consumers for certain increases in charges.
Information for this markup, including the Committee Memorandum, electronic copies of the legislation and any amendments, and a link to the live webcast will be posted HERE as they become available.
