Posts Tagged ‘Legislation’
E911 Surcharge Fairness Act Introduced
Posted on January 24, 2012Representative Danny Davis (D-IL) has introduced the E911 Surcharge Fairness Act of 2011 (H.R. 3788). The legislation requires that state and local E911 fees taxes and surcharges be imposed upon pre-paid mobile service providers and customers in a non-discriminatory manner as compared to traditional post-paid mobile services. The Bill has been referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and the Judiciary.
Hochul Introduces 9-1-1 Text Message Bill
Posted on December 16, 2011Representative Kathy Hochul (D-NY) has introduced a bill directing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to complete a coordinated rulemaking within one year requiring mobile providers to send an error message to customers when 9-1-1 text messages have not been delivered. Introduced as the Allowing Local Emergency Response Technicians to Accept Cellular Texts, or ALERT ACT (H.R. 3654), the bill requires that providers’ error messages instruct consumers on the proper way to contact emergency services. It also directs the Secretary of DHS to ensure that 10% of emergency management performance grants awarded after the bill’s enactment are used to test or implement services or equipment allowing the public to send 9-1-1 texts. The bill has been referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, and on Transportation and Infrastructure, but has not been scheduled for a hearing.
House Committee Passes Cybersecurity Sharing Bill
Posted on December 8, 2011A bill recently introduced in the House by Representatives Mike J. Rogers (R-MI) and Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) has passed the House Intelligence Committee. The bill, known as the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (H.R. 3523), would provide for the sharing of cyber threat intelligence and information, including certain classified information, between the federal government and certain approved private sector entities. The bill is intended to help American businesses expand their cyber defense efforts to better protect themselves and customers from hackers. While pending before the House Intelligence Committee, the bill was passed with two amendments enhancing privacy protections and adding Congressional review over information shared by the private sector with the government.
Proposed Senate Amendment Would Stall LightSquared Launch
Posted on November 18, 2011Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) has introduced an amendment that prohibits the FCC from using any appropriated funds to allow LightSquared to build out a broadband network until the agency can prove to Congress that the expansion will not interfere with the use of GPS technology. This move comes after the FCC’s International Bureau granted a conditional waiver earlier this year to allow the company to build 40,000 ground stations throughout the United States for terrestrial deployment of its proposed broadband wireless network. Skeptics of LightSquared’s plans believe that those stations could cause widespread interference to nearby GPS receivers because the spectrum use by LightSquared is adjacent to the spectrum used by GPS receivers. The amendment introduced by Senator Roberts is attached to the Fiscal Year 2012 Financial Services and Government Affairs Appropriations Bill which is currently before the Senate’s Committee on Appropriations. In June 2011, Representatives Kevin Yoder (R-KS) and Steve Austria (R-OH) introduced a similar amendment attached to the House version of the 2012 appropriations bill.
Proposed Bill Would Reauthorize RUS Broadband Loan Program
Posted on November 18, 2011Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has introduced the Upstate Works Act, which is a bill focused on job creation in upstate New York. Among other things, the legislation would reauthorize the Rural Utilities Service’s broadband loan and loan guarantee program through 2017. According to Senator Gillibrand’s official press release, “in 2010, New York received over $12 million through the RUS loan program, helping advance seven rural broadband deployment projects throughout the state, creating or saving over 1,000 jobs and delivering high-speed Internet service to thousands of New York households, hundreds of businesses and anchor institutions like schools and libraries.” The bill has not yet been referred to committee.
Lifeline Reform Act Introduced in the House
Posted on October 13, 2011Representative Blake Farenthold (R-TX) has introduced the Lifeline Reform Act (H.R. 3118). The bill directs the FCC to “revisit the universal service support program to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, and for other purposes,” but is directed primarily at the Lifeline program. Among other things, the bill would prevent carriers form offering free Lifeline service and would require the FCC to create a national database to prevent consumers from receiving discounted Lifeline service from more than one carrier. The Lifeline Reform Act was introduced as a result of the GOP’s YouCut program which presents three “duplicative or wasteful government programs” every week that should endure spending cuts. Visitors to House majority leader Eric Cantor’s (R-VA) website can then vote on the programs, and the program that receives the most votes is the subject of legislation. The Lifeline Reform Act has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Senate Bill Aims to Reclaim Broadband Stimulus Funds
Posted on October 11, 2011Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), along with co-sponsor Jim DeMint (R-SC), has introduced a bill (S. 1659) “to return unused or reclaimed funds made available for broadband awards in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to the Treasury of the United States.” If passed, the bill would give authority to the Commerce Department and Rural Utilities Service to investigate broadband stimulus awards for compliance and terminate awards and loans under certain circumstances. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.