All Telecommunication industry Legislation - Federal Government
H.R.6356 - To reform the collection and distribution of universal service support under the Communications Act of 1934.
Latest Action: 06/24/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Bill Text To reform the collection and distribution of universal service support under the Communications Act of 1934. 6/24/2008--Introduced. Universal Service Reform, Accountability, and Efficiency Act of 2008 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to revise the policies concerning the principles for the advancement of universal service to require that the policies be based on the principles of affordability, efficiency, certain contribution and distribution requirements, transparency, consumer focus, and access to advanced telecommunications services for schools, libraries, and rural health care providers. Requires that universal service support be used solely to provide voice (including IP-enabled voice) communications in high cost areas and to low-income households. Authorizes the FCC to select any contribution mechanism that is consistent with the above principles and that: (1) is based exclusively on providing voice communications service; (2) does not assess broadband [...] show full description Comment on Bill H.R.6304 - To amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to establish a procedure for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 07/10/2008 - Signed by President. Bill Text To 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 S.2919 - A bill to promote the accurate transmission of network traffic identification information.
Latest Action: 04/24/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3407-3408) Bill Text A 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). S.2998 - A bill to require accurate and reasonable disclosure of the terms and conditions of prepaid telephone calling cards and services, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 09/10/2008 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Hearings held. Bill Text A 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 S.CON.RES.82 - A concurrent resolution supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act.
Latest Action: 05/12/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4033) Bill Text A 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. H.R.5994 - To amend the Clayton Act with respect to competitive and nondiscriminatory access to the Internet.
Latest Action: 05/08/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E859) Bill Text To amend the Clayton Act with respect to competitive and nondiscriminatory access to the Internet. 5/8/2008--Introduced. Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 - Amends the Clayton Act to prohibit any broadband network provider from: (1) failing to provide its services on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms; (2) refusing to interconnect its facilities with those of another service provider on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms; (3) blocking, impairing, discriminating against, or interfering with any person's ability to use a broadband network service to access or offer lawful content, applications, or services over the Internet (or imposing an additional charge to avoid such prohibited conduct); (4) prohibiting a user from attaching or using a device on the provider's network that does not physically damage or materially degrade other users' utilization of the network; or (5) failing to clearly and conspicuously disclose to users accurate information concerning [...] show full description H.R.5846 - To require the Federal Communications Commission to auction spectrum for a free and open access broadband service.
Latest Action: 04/17/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E651) Bill Text To require the Federal Communications Commission to auction spectrum for a free and open access broadband service. 4/17/2008--Introduced. Wireless Internet Nationwide for Families Act of 2008 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to promote nationwide broadband competition through the use of wireless services by issuing nationwide licenses, for a term of at least 15 years, for two bands of frequencies, each composed of 20 megahertz of unpaired contiguous spectrum, one band under 3 gigahertz and not part of the recovered analog spectrum and the other band between 2155 and 2180 megahertz. Requires licensees, among other things, to offer to consumers and authorized public safety users, without subscription, airtime, usage, or other charges, a data service that is faster than 200 kilobits per second and that has technology that protects underage users from accessing obscene or indecent material. Requires a [...] show full description H.R.5682 - To improve access to broadband service in rural and underserved areas of the United States, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 11/19/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development, and Foreign Agriculture. Bill Text To 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 H.J.RES.79 - Disapproving the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission with respect to broadcast media ownership.
Latest Action: 03/13/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Bill Text Disapproving 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. S.J.RES.28 - A joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission with respect to broadcast media ownership.
Latest Action: 05/19/2008 - Received in the House. Bill Text A 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. H.R.5440 - To amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to establish a procedure for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 04/23/2008 - Motion to Discharge Committee filed by Mr. Fossella. Petition No: 110-7. Bill Text To 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 H.R.5470 - To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the carriage of all local television signals by satellite carriers in all local markets.
Latest Action: 02/14/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Bill Text To 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. H.R.5349 - To extend the Protect America Act of 2007 for 21 days.
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 Text To 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. H.R.5353 - To establish broadband policy and direct the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a proceeding and public broadband summits to assess competition, consumer protection, and consumer choice issues relating to broadband Internet access services, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 05/06/2008 - Subcommittee Hearings Held. Bill Text To establish broadband policy and direct the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a proceeding and public broadband summits to assess competition, consumer protection, and consumer choice issues relating to broadband Internet access services, and for other purposes. 2/12/2008--Introduced. Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2008 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to declare that it is U.S. policy to: (1) maintain the freedom to use broadband telecommunications networks, including the Internet, without unreasonable interference from or discrimination by network operators; (2) enable the United States to preserve its global leadership in online commerce and technological innovation; (3) promote the open and interconnected nature of broadband networks that enable consumers to reach, and service providers to offer, content, applications, and services of their choosing; and (4) guard against unreasonable discriminatory favoritism for, or degradation of, content by [...] show full description S.2615 - A bill to extend the Protect America Act of 2007 for 15 days.
Latest Action: 02/11/2008 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 571. Bill Text A bill to extend the Protect America Act of 2007 for 15 days. 2/8/2008--Introduced.
Amends the Protect America Act of 2007 to extend its authority for 15 days. S.2557 - A bill to extend the Protect America Act of 2007 until July 1, 2009.
Latest Action: 01/28/2008 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 565. Bill Text A bill to extend the Protect America Act of 2007 until July 1, 2009. 1/25/2008--Introduced.
Amends the Protect America Act of 2007 (currently set to expire on February 1, 2008) to extend its authority until July 1, 2009. S.2556 - A bill to extend the provisions of the Protect America Act of 2007 for an additional 30 days.
Latest Action: 01/25/2008 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 564. Bill Text A bill to extend the provisions of the Protect America Act of 2007 for an additional 30 days. 1/24/2008--Introduced.
Amends the Protect America Act of 2007 (currently set to expire on February 1, 2008) to extend its authority for 30 days. H.R.5104 - To extend the Protect America Act of 2007 for 15 days.
Latest Action: 01/31/2008 - Signed by President. Bill Text To extend the Protect America Act of 2007 for 15 days. 1/31/2008--Public Law. (There are 3 other summaries)
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on January 29, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Amends the Protect America Act of 2007 (currently set to expire on February 1, 2008) to extend its authority for 15 days. S.2541 - A bill to extend the provisions of the Protect America Act of 2007 for an additional 30 days.
Latest Action: 01/22/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S105) Bill Text A bill to extend the provisions of the Protect America Act of 2007 for an additional 30 days. 1/22/2008--Introduced.
Amends the Protect America Act of 2007 (currently set to expire on February 1, 2008) to extend its authority for 30 days. S.2469 - A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prevent the granting of regulatory forbearance by default.
Latest Action: 12/13/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Bill Text A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prevent the granting of regulatory forbearance by default. 12/13/2007--Introduced.
Protecting Consumers through Proper Forbearance Procedures Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to grant or deny, within one year, a petition by one or more telecommunications carriers or classes of carriers requesting that the FCC forbear from applying any regulation or provision under the Act. (Current law deems such a petition granted if not denied within one year.) S.2454 - A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to protect the privacy rights of subscribers to wireless communications services.
Latest Action: 12/12/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Bill Text A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to protect the privacy rights of subscribers to wireless communications services. 12/12/2007--Introduced. Wireless 411 Privacy Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit a provider of commercial mobile services, or any affiliate or agent of such provider (provider), from including the wireless telephone number (wireless number) of any subscriber in any wireless directory assistance service (WDAS) database unless the provider: (1) provides a conspicuous, separate notice to the subscriber of the right not be listed in any WDAS; and (2) obtains express prior listing authorization from such subscriber, and that authorization has not been withdrawn. Requires a provider to remove the wireless number of any subscriber from a WDAS upon request of that subscriber and without subscriber cost. Provides limited circumstances under which a provider may connect a calling party from a WDAS to a commercial mobile service subscriber.[...] show full description S.2441 - A bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, to modernize and streamline the provisions of that Act, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 12/11/2007 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 530. Bill Text A bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, to modernize and streamline the provisions of that Act, and for other purposes. 12/10/2007--Introduced. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2007 or FISA Amendments Act of 2007 - Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to authorize the Attorney General (AG) and Director of National Intelligence to jointly authorize, for periods up to one year, the targeting (electronic surveillance) of persons located outside the United States to acquire foreign intelligence information. Requires specified targeting and surveillance minimization procedures to be followed, with Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (Court) review of such procedures.States that: (1) FISA shall be the exclusive means for targeting U.S. persons inside or outside the United States, except where specific statutory authorization exists to obtain foreign intelligence information without an [...] show full description H.R.4307 - To amend the Communications Act of 1934, and increase consumer freedom of choice in the video marketplace.
Latest Action: 12/06/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Bill Text To amend the Communications Act of 1934, and increase consumer freedom of choice in the video marketplace. 12/6/2007--Introduced.
Consumer Freedom of Choice in Cable Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to remove provisions authorizing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), when cable systems with at least 36 channels are available to 70% of U.S. households and are subscribed to by 70% of households to which such systems are available (sometimes referred to as the 70/70 rule), to promulgate additional rules necessary to provide diversity of information sources. S.2402 - A bill to provide for the substitution of the United States in certain civil actions.
Latest Action: 12/13/2007 - Committee on the Judiciary. Date of scheduled hearing. SD-226. 10:00 a.m. Bill Text A bill to provide for the substitution of the United States in certain civil actions. 12/3/2007--Introduced. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Substitution Act of 2007 - Requires a federal or state court to substitute the United States for an electronic communication service provider with respect to any claim in a covered civil action if the Attorney General certifies to the court that either: (1) the service provider did not provide the alleged assistance; or (2) the assistance alleged to have been provided was in connection with an intelligence activity involving communications authorized by the President between September 11, 2001, and January 17, 2007, and designed to detect or prevent a terrorist attack, or activities in preparation for a terrorist attack, against the United States. Requires the alleged provider assistance to be described in a written request or directive from the Attorney General or the head of an element of the intelligence community to the electronic [...] show full description H.R.4221 - To mandate satellite carriage of qualified noncommercial educational television stations.
Latest Action: 11/15/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Bill Text To mandate satellite carriage of qualified noncommercial educational television stations. 11/15/2007--Introduced.
Satellite Consumers' Access to Public Television Digital Programming Act of 2007 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require a satellite carrier that offers multichannel video programming distribution service to over five million subscribers to retransmit the digital signals of each noncommercial educational television station that is located in any local U.S. market. H.R.4159 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restructure and replace the income tax system of the United States to meet national priorities, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 11/13/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. Bill Text To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restructure and replace the income tax system of the United States to meet national priorities, and for other purposes. 11/13/2007--Introduced. Simplified USA Tax Act of 2007 - Repeals, after 2006, income tax and estate and gift tax provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Replaces such Code with a new tax system, to be known as the Simplified USA Tax. Establishes three income tax brackets at 15, 25, and 30% for individual taxpayers. Redefines "gross income" and allows certain exclusions from gross income, including previously-taxed benefits, tax-exempt bond interest, compensation for injuries and sickness, and gain from the sale of a principal residence. Allows tax deductions for alimony and child support, home mortgage interest, certain higher education expenses, and charitable contributions. Allows a tax credit for employee social security payroll taxes.Revises rules for Roth individual retirement [...] show full description S.2332 - A bill to promote transparency in the adoption of new media ownership rules by the Federal Communications Commission, and to establish an independent panel to make recommendations on how to increase the representation of women and minorities in broadcast media ownership.
Latest Action: 09/15/2008 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye with amendments. With written report No. 110-461. Bill Text A bill to promote transparency in the adoption of new media ownership rules by the Federal Communications Commission, and to establish an independent panel to make recommendations on how to increase the representation of women and minorities in broadcast media ownership. 9/15/2008--Reported to Senate amended. (There is 1 other summary) Media Ownership Act of 2007 - Amends the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in changing any of its regulations related to broadcast ownership, to publish notice in the Federal Register for least 90 days, followed by at least 60 days for public comment, followed by at least 30 days to reply to comments. Applies those requirements to any any changes related to broadcast and newspaper ownership made after October 1, 2007. Requires the FCC, before voting on any change in broadcast and newspaper ownership rules made necessary by the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals [...] show full description Latest Action: 10/31/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Bill Text Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act. 10/31/2007--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. S.2248 - An original bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, to modernize and streamline the provisions of that Act, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 02/12/2008 - S.AMDT.4018 Amendment SA 4018 proposed by Senator Rockefeller to Amendment SA 3911. To make technical corrections. Bill Text An original bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, to modernize and streamline the provisions of that Act, and for other purposes. 2/12/2008--Passed Senate amended. (There are 3 other summaries) 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 foreign intelligence information, under specified limitations, including: (1) prohibiting an acquisition intentionally targeting a person reasonably [...] show full description H.R.3914 - To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prevent the granting of regulatory forbearance by default.
Latest Action: 07/22/2008 - Subcommittee Hearings Held. Bill Text To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prevent the granting of regulatory forbearance by default. 10/22/2007--Introduced.
Protecting Consumers through Proper Forbearance Procedures Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to grant or deny, within one year, a petition by one or more telecommunications carriers or classes of carriers requesting that the FCC forbear from applying any regulation or provision under the Act. (Current law deems such a petition granted if not denied within one year.) H.R.3850 - To improve the collection and use of data related to crimes of child exploitation, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 10/16/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. Bill T |
