H.R. 5525

End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2016

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I

114th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5525

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 16, 2016

Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia (for himself and Mr. Sessions) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To prohibit universal service support of commercial mobile service and commercial mobile data service through the Lifeline program.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2016.

2.

Prohibition on Lifeline support for mobile service

(a)

In general

Beginning on January 1, 2017, a provider of commercial mobile service or commercial mobile data service may not receive universal service support under sections 214(e) and 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 214(e); 254) for the provision of such service through the Lifeline program of the Federal Communications Commission.

(b)

Contributions

For calendar year 2017, the amount that telecommunications carriers that provide interstate telecommunications services and other providers of interstate telecommunications are required to contribute under section 254(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 to Federal universal service support mechanisms shall be determined—

(1)

without regard to subsection (a); and

(2)

as if the same amount of support for the provision of commercial mobile service and commercial mobile data service through the Lifeline program that is provided in calendar year 2016 is provided in calendar year 2017.

(c)

Excess collections

The amount collected pursuant to subsection (b)(2) shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury of the United States, for the sole purpose of deficit reduction. No portion of such amount may be treated as a credit toward future contributions required under section 254(d) of the Communications Act of 1934.

(d)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Commercial mobile data service

The term commercial mobile data service has the meaning given such term in section 6001 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1401).

(2)

Commercial mobile service

The term commercial mobile service has the meaning given such term in section 332 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332).