Top Legislation - View All
Also tagged in: Broadband, Business, Congressional reporting requirements, Governmental investigations, Internet, Technological innovations, Technology, Telecommunication, Telecommunication rates, Telephone, Welfare, Welfare recipients, Wireless communication
Latest Action: 02/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. Bill TextTo amend the Communications Act of 1934 to continue in effect and expand the Lifeline Assistance Program and the Link Up Program, and for other purposes. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Serving Everyone with Reliable, Vital Internet, Communications, and Education Act of 2007 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to expand the Lifeline Assistance Program and the Link Up Program. Requires a report to Congress on the benefit level for the programs that will encourage low-income consumers to seek broadband service, projections on potential broadband consumers if the service was economically feasible, industry requirements to provide broadband service in underserved areas, and policy proposals regarding gaps in broadband availability.
Also tagged in: Administrative remedies, Business, Civil liberties, Congress, Congressional oversight, Data banks, Electronic commerce, Excise tax, Intergovernmental tax relations, Internet, Interstate compacts, Judicial review, Law, Minorities, Right of privacy, Sales tax, Small business, State and local government, State government-Indian relations, State taxation, Tax administration, Tax credits, Tax rates, Tax refunds, Tax returns, Tax simplification, Taxation, Technology, Telecommunication
Latest Action: 05/22/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. Bill TextA bill to promote simplification and fairness in the administration and collection of sales and use taxes. 5/22/2007--Introduced. Sales Tax Fairness and Simplification Act - Grants the consent of Congress to the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (Agreement), the multistate agreement for the administration and collection of sales and use taxes adopted on November 12, 2002. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Agreement provides sufficient simplification and uniformity to warrant federal authorizations to states that are parties to it (member states) to require remote sellers (sellers without a physical presence in the taxing state) to collect and remit the sales and use taxes of such states and their local taxing jurisdictions.Authorizes each member state, after 10 states (comprising at least 20% of all states imposing a sales tax) have petitioned for and become member states, to require all sellers, except those sellers with gross remote taxable sales nationwide [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Accounting, Administrative procedure, Auditing, Broadband, Budgets, Business, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Cost control, Criminal justice, Disabled, Emergency communication systems, Emergency management, Executive departments, Federal Communications Commission, Federal preemption, Finance, Fraud, Humanities, Independent regulatory commissions, Indians, Internet, Law, Libraries, Medical care, Minorities, Off-budget expenditures, Performance measurement, Rural affairs, Rural health, Standards, State and local government, State laws, Surveys, Technology, Telecommunication, Telecommunication rates, Telephone, Territories (U.S.)
Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Bill TextA bill to update and reinvigorate universal service provided under the Communications Act of 1934. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Universal Service for Americans Act or USA Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require each communications service provider to contribute to support universal service (the provision of communications service in rural, insular, and high-cost areas), subject to exemptions. Modifies requirements regarding interconnection and rural telephone companies. Imposes on facilities-based IP-enabled voice service providers the same rights, duties, and obligations as a requesting telecommunications carrier if the provider elects to assert those rights. Prohibits a carrier from refusing to transport or terminate IP-enabled voice traffic solely because it is IP-enabled and prohibits a provider originating, transmitting, or terminating IP-enabled voice traffic from being exempted from paying compensation for interstate traffic solely because the [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Business, Business records, Child sexual abuse, Children, Civil liberties, Computer crimes, Criminal justice, Criminal justice information, Data banks, Directories, Electronic mail systems, Evidence (Law), Fines (Penalties), Fraud, Government information, Government paperwork, Identification devices, Internet, Law, Liability (Law), Right of privacy, Sex offenders, Technology, Telecommunication, Web sites
Latest Action: 10/03/2008 - Presented to President. Bill TextA bill to require convicted sex offenders to register online identifiers, and for other purposes. 9/27/2008--Passed House amended. (There are 3 other summaries) Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators Act of 2008 or the KIDS Act of 2008 - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) require sex offenders to provide to the National Sex Offender Registry all Internet identifiers (i.e., email addresses and other designations used for self-identification or routing in Internet communication or posting) used by such offenders; (2) specify requirements for keeping Internet identifier information current; (3) exempt Internet identifiers provided by a sex offender from public disclosure; and (4) establish procedures to notify sex offenders of changes in requirements for providing Internet identifier information. Requires the Attorney General to establish and maintain a secure system to allow social networking websites to compare information contained [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Administrative procedure, Business, Competition, Correctional institutions, Correctional personnel, Criminal justice, Debit cards, Executive departments, Federal Communications Commission, Federal preemption, Fees, Finance, Independent regulatory commissions, Law, Prisoners, Prisoners' rights, State and local government, State laws, Telecommunication, Telephone, Telephone rates
Latest Action: 02/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. Bill TextTo amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe rules regulating inmate telephone service rates. 1/18/2007--Introduced. Family Telephone Connection Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to consider the following types of regulation of inmate telephone service: (1) prescribing a maximum uniform per-minute rate (paid to telephone service providers); (2) prescribing a maximum uniform service connection or other per-call rate; (3) prescribing variable maximum rates depending on factors such as carrier costs or the size of the correctional facility; (4) requiring providers of inmate telephone service to offer both collect calling and debit account services; (5) prohibiting the payment of commissions by such providers to administrators of correctional facilities; and (6) requiring such administrators to allow more than one service provider at a facility [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Administrative procedure, Auditing, Broadband, Business, Cable television, Capital gains tax, Congress, Congressional investigations, Congressional reporting requirements, Corporation taxes, Department of the Treasury, Direct broadcast satellites, Enterprise zones, Executive departments, Finance, Income tax, Investment tax credit, Law, Minorities, Minority business enterprises, Partnerships, Radio stations, Small business, Small business investment companies, Stocks, Tax deferral, Tax exclusion, Taxation, Telecommunication, Telephone, Television stations, Urban affairs, Wireless communication
Latest Action: 01/22/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. Bill TextTo amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a deferral of tax on gain from the sale of telecommunications businesses in specific circumstances or a tax credit and other incentives to promote diversity of ownership in telecommunications businesses. 1/22/2007--Introduced. Telecommunications Ownership Diversification Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer election to exclude from gross income a portion of the gain from the sale of the assets of a telecommunications business to an eligible purchaser. Defines "eligible purchaser" as: (1) any economically and socially disadvantaged business as designated by the Secretary of the Treasury using specified criteria; or (2) a corporation or partnership which, following the sale of a telecommunications business, owns substantially all of the assets of such business and is at least five percent owned by the Telecommunications Development Fund established under the Communications Act of [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Administrative fees, Budgets, Business, Business records, Child pornography, Child sexual abuse, Children, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Criminal justice information, Electronic mail systems, Electronic surveillance, Evidence (Law), Ex-offenders, Fines (Penalties), Foreign policy, Government information, Government paperwork, Government publicity, Identification devices, Identification of criminals, Informers, International affairs, International cooperation, Internet, Law, Liability (Law), Mandatory sentences, Missing children, Probation, Prosecution, Recidivists, Sentences (Criminal procedure), Sex offenders, Technology, Telecommunication, Trade, Web sites
Latest Action: 02/07/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1714-1715) Bill TextA bill to modernize and expand the reporting requirements relating to child pornography, to expand cooperation in combating child pornography, and for other purposes. 2/7/2007--Introduced. Securing Adolescents From Exploitation-Online Act of 2007 or the SAFE Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to expand the reporting requirements of electronic communication and remote computing service providers with respect to violations of child sexual exploitation and pornography laws. Requires such service providers, in reporting violations of such laws to the CyberTipline of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to provide: (1) information on the Internet identity of a suspected sex offender, including the electronic mail address, website address, uniform resource locator, or other identifying information; (2) the time child pornography was uploaded or discovered; (3) geographic location information for the offender; and (4) images of such child pornography.[...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Agricultural assistance, Agriculture, Agriculture in foreign trade, Aliens, American investments, American property in foreign countries, Armed forces, Budgets, Business, Caribbean area, Civil liberties, Communications, Cuba, Debt relief, Defense policy, Democracy, Development credit institutions, Economic assistance, Embargo, Energy, Equipment and supplies, Export controls, Export finance, Expropriation, Finance, Food, Foreign aid, Foreign investments, Foreign loans, Foreign policy, Foreign tax credit, Government lending, Government liability (International law), Human rights, Immigration, Import restrictions, Income tax, Intellectual property, Intelligence activities, International affairs, International agencies, International broadcasting, International claims, International finance, Investment guaranty insurance, Latin America, Law, Negotiations, Nuclear facilities, Politics and government, Postal service, President and foreign policy, Presidents, Reinsurance, Right of property, Right to travel, Sanctions (International law), Sugar, Taxation, Telecommunication, Telephone, Television broadcasting, Trade, Trademarks, Trading with the enemy, Transportation, Visas, War and emergency powers
Latest Action: 04/12/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology. Bill TextTo lift the trade embargo on Cuba, and for other purposes. 1/22/2007--Introduced. Free Trade With Cuba Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to repeal the embargo on trade with Cuba. Prohibits the exercise by the President with respect to Cuba of certain authorities conferred by the Trading With the Enemy Act and exercised on July 1, 1977, as a result of a specified national emergency. Declares that any prohibition on exports to Cuba under the Export Administration Act of 1979 shall cease to be effective. Authorizes the President to impose export controls with respect to Cuba and exercise certain authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act only on account of an unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security that did not exist before enactment of this Act. Repeals: (1) the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992; (2) the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996; (3) the prohibition under the Food Security Act of 1985 [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Administrative procedure, Authorization, Budgets, Business, Business records, Child pornography, Child sexual abuse, Children, Civil liberties, Computer crimes, Correctional personnel, Criminal justice, Criminal justice information, Data banks, Directories, Electronic mail systems, Evidence (Law), Ex-offenders, Executive departments, Fines (Penalties), Fraud, Government information, Government paperwork, Identification devices, Internet, Law, Liability (Law), Money laundering, Probation, Right of privacy, Sentencing guidelines, Sex offenders, Smart cards, Technology, Telecommunication, U.S. Sentencing Commission, Web sites
Latest Action: 11/15/2007 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Bill TextA bill to authorize additional appropriations for supervision of Internet access by sex offenders convicted under Federal law, and for other purposes. 11/14/2007--Passed House amended. (There is 1 other summary) Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators Act of 2007 or the KIDS Act of 2007 - Authorizes additional appropriations for FY2008-FY2013 to: (1) evaluate and purchase Internet filtering and monitoring programs and devices; (2) train probation officers in the use of such programs and devices and in the supervision of sex offenders; and (3) hire probation officers and other personnel as required to supervise convicted sex offenders effectively.Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) include as discretionary conditions for the probation and supervised release of a convicted sex offender restricted access to the Internet and monitoring of computers used by such offender by a probation officer; (2) impose a fine and/or prison term of [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Administrative procedure, Administrative remedies, Broadband, Business, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Executive departments, Federal Communications Commission, Governmental investigations, Independent regulatory commissions, Internet, Law, Technology, Telecommunication, Telecommunication rates
Latest Action: 02/28/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Bill TextA bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to expand the contribution base for universal service, establish a separate account within the universal service fund to support the deployment of broadband service in unserved areas of the United States, and for other purposes. 2/28/2007--Introduced. Universal Service for the 21st Century Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require all telecommunications carriers (currently, only those providing interstate telecommunications services) to contribute to the universal service fund (a fund whose goal is to provide advanced telecommunications services to all areas of the country). Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a permanent mechanism to support universal service that will preserve and enhance its long-term financial stability. Gives the FCC exclusive jurisdiction to establish rates for inter-carrier compensation payments, including compensation for the origination and termination of intrastate [...] show full description
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Latest Legislation - View All
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative procedure, Americans in foreign countries, Appellate courts, Appellate procedure, Biological warfare, Business, Chemical warfare, Congress, Congress and foreign policy, Congressional oversight, Congressional reporting requirements, Court records, Courts of special jurisdiction, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Department of Justice, Director of National Intelligence, Electronic surveillance, Emergency management, Evidence (Law), Executive departments, Federal preemption, Foreign agents, Foreign policy, Government information, Government paperwork, Governmental investigations, Inspectors general, Intelligence activities, Internet, Judges, Judicial review, Jurisdiction, Law, Liability (Law), Nuclear nonproliferation, Nuclear terrorism, Nuclear weapons, Politics and government, Searches and seizures, Security clearances, State and local government, Supreme Court, Technology, Telecommunication, Terrorism, Warrants (Law), Weapons of mass destruction, Weapons systems
Latest Action: 07/10/2008 - Signed by President. Bill TextTo amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to establish a procedure for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence, and for other purposes. 7/10/2008--Public Law. (There is 1 other summary) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008 or FISA Amendments Act of 2008 - Title I: Foreign Intelligence Surveillance - (Sec. 101) Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to add a new title concerning additional procedures for acquiring the communications of certain persons outside the United States. Authorizes the Attorney General (AG) and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to jointly authorize, for periods up to one year, the targeting (electronic surveillance) of persons located outside the United States in order to acquire [...] show full description
Latest Action: 04/24/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3407-3408) Bill TextA bill to promote the accurate transmission of network traffic identification information. 4/24/2008--Introduced. Signaling Modernization Act of 2008 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require a telecommunications service or IP-enabled voice service provide to ensure that all voice communications service traffic originating on its network contains the signaling information reasonably needed to facilitate intercarrier billing in accordance with industry standards. Requires a provider that transports or transits traffic between voice communications service providers to forward the signaling information it receives from another provider (without altering such signaling information) that is reasonably needed to facilitate intercarrier billing in accordance with industry standards, except as otherwise permitted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Business, Consumer education, Consumer protection, Consumers, Customer service, Fees, Injunctions, Law, Parties to actions, Restrictive trade practices, State and local government, State laws, Technology, Telecommunication, Telecommunication rates, Telephone, Wireless communication
Latest Action: 09/10/2008 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Hearings held. Bill TextA bill to require accurate and reasonable disclosure of the terms and conditions of prepaid telephone calling cards and services, and for other purposes. 5/8/2008--Introduced. Prepaid Calling Card Consumer Protection Act of 2008 - Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to require every prepaid telephone calling service provider and prepaid telephone calling card distributor to disclose certain information, including: (1) the number of calling units or minutes of domestic interstate calls provided or the dollar value and the domestic interstate rate per minute; (2) the calling unit or per minute rates for all served international preferred destinations; (3) the applicable per minute rates for all served international destinations; (4) all terms and conditions, including regarding fees, policies on refunds, recharges, decrements, and expiration, and time imitations; and (5) a toll-free customer service number and hours. Makes it unlawful to: (1) deduct anything but [...] show full description
Latest Action: 05/12/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4033) Bill TextA concurrent resolution supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act. 5/12/2008--Introduced. Declares that Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over-the-air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings.
Also tagged in: Bonds, Broadband, Budgets, Business, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Cooperative societies, Distance education, Economic policy, Education, Educational television, Elementary and secondary education, Emergency communication systems, Emergency management, Federally-guaranteed loans, Finance, Government lending, Grants-in-aid, Health policy, Higher education, Income tax, Information networks, Medical care, Medicine, Policy sciences, Politics and government, Rural affairs, Rural economic development, Rural health, Tax credits, Tax deductions, Taxation, Technology, Telecommunication, Telemedicine, Telephone, Television broadcasting, Television stations, Unrelated business income tax
Latest Action: 04/02/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdi Bill TextTo improve access to broadband service in rural and underserved areas of the United States, and for other purposes. 4/2/2008--Introduced. Rural America Communication Expansion for the Future Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit taxpayers in rural or underserved areas to elect to expense broadband expenditures, including installation and connection costs. Permits mutual or cooperative telephone companies to reduce their unrelated business taxable income in any year by the amount of their broadband expenditures. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to designate census tracts identifying rural and underserved areas. Prohibits federal or state agencies from adopting regulations and ratemaking procedures that would eliminate or reduce the broadband expense deduction provided by this Act. Allows a business-related tax credit for providing broadband services to rural or underserved subscribers through the radio transmission of energy. [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Administrative procedure, Business, Communications, Congress, Congressional veto, Economic concentration, Executive departments, Federal Communications Commission, Independent regulatory commissions, Law, Newspapers, Radio stations, Telecommunication, Television stations
Latest Action: 03/13/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Bill TextDisapproving the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission with respect to broadcast media ownership. 3/13/2008--Introduced. Disapproves the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and received by Congress on February 22, 2008, relating to broadcast media ownership.
Also tagged in: Administrative procedure, Business, Communications, Congress, Congressional veto, Economic concentration, Executive departments, Federal Communications Commission, Independent regulatory commissions, Law, Newspapers, Radio stations, Telecommunication, Television stations
Latest Action: 05/19/2008 - Received in the House. Bill TextA joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission with respect to broadcast media ownership. 5/15/2008--Passed Senate without amendment. (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Disapproves the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and received by Congress on February 22, 2008, relating to broadcast media ownership. Declares that the rule shall have no force or effect.
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Armed forces, Arms control, Business, Business records, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Courts of special jurisdiction, Criminal justice, Defense policy, Electronic surveillance, Emergency management, Federal preemption, Fines (Penalties), Foreign policy, Government information, Government paperwork, Governmental investigations, Intelligence activities, International affairs, Judges, Law, Nuclear nonproliferation, Searches and seizures, Security classification (Government documents), State and local government, Telecommunication, Terrorism, Warrants (Law), Weapons of mass destruction, Weapons systems
Latest Action: 04/23/2008 - Motion to Discharge Committee filed by Mr. Fossella. Petition No: 110-7. Bill TextTo amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to establish a procedure for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence, and for other purposes. 2/14/2008--Introduced. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008 or FISA Amendments Act of 2008 - Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to authorize the Attorney General (AG) and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to jointly authorize, for periods up to one year, the targeting (electronic surveillance) of persons located outside the United States in order to acquire foreign intelligence information, under specified limitations and requirements. Authorizes the AG and DNI to direct an electronic communication service provider to: (1) immediately provide the government with all information, facilities, and assistance necessary to accomplish an acquisition of communications; and (2) maintain under security procedures any records concerning such acquisition.[...] show full description
Latest Action: 02/14/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Bill TextTo amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the carriage of all local television signals by satellite carriers in all local markets. 2/14/2008--Introduced. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require each satellite carrier providing secondary transmissions in the local market of a television broadcast station to carry, on request, the signals of all television broadcast stations located within any local market (currently, located within that local market), subject to existing broadcast signal retransmission consent provisions.
Also tagged in: Appellate procedure, Business, Civil liberties, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Counterintelligence, Courts of special jurisdiction, Criminal justice, Electronic surveillance, Intelligence activities, Law, Right of privacy, Telecommunication, Warrants (Law)
Latest Action: 02/13/2008 - Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5349 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. Bill TextTo extend the Protect America Act of 2007 for 21 days. 2/12/2008--Introduced. Amends the Protect America Act of 2007 (currently set to expire on February 16, 2008) to extend its authority for 21days.
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