House Communications Advances Pirate Radio, National Suicide Hotline, Other Bills
The House Communications Subcommittee advanced the Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act (HR-5709) and three other telecom-related bills to the full Commerce Committee Wednesday on voice votes (see 1806110060). The others were: the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act (HR-2345),…
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the Advancing Critical Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, Opportunities, Access and Data Based on Assessed Need and Demand Act (HR-3994) and the Precision Agriculture Connectivity Act (HR-4881). The markup was largely smooth, although Democrats used the amendment process for HR-5709 to voice their opposition to FCC order to rescind its 2015 net neutrality rules, which took effect Monday, and the Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval effort that last year abolished ISP privacy rules (see 1706070050, 1706210059 and 1806110054). The underlying HR-5709 would increase fines for illegal pirate operations from $10,000 per violation to $100,000 per day per violation, up to a maximum of $2 million. Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., offered and withdrew an amendment to HR-5709 that would have added language to the bill that would ensure it wasn't “construed to prevent the FCC from enforcing” the 2015 net neutrality rules. Doyle urged his colleagues to sign on to a discharge petition to force a floor vote on his CRA resolution aimed at reversing the FCC rescission order (House Joint Resolution-129). That petition had 172 signatures. Doyle also filed and withdrew an amendment that would have added language that would have ensured HR-5309 wouldn't be used to prevent the FCC from enforcing the ISP privacy rules abolished last year. Doyle noted recent reports about the unauthorized disclosure of wireless subscribers' real-time location data by LocationSmart and Securus, which is a “clear example of why” the abolished privacy rules “were necessary and the danger in repealing them.” He urged House Communications Republicans to hold a hearing on the after effects of the rules' repeal. Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said she aims to work “in a bipartisan manner” on privacy and data security issues and is committed to finding a solution “for the entire internet ecosystem.” Commissioner Mike O'Rielly and NAB lauded advancement of HR-5709. The GPS Innovation Alliance praised clearance of HR-4881, which would in part establish a task force to identify internet connectivity gaps in agricultural areas.