H.R. 557 – FCC "ABCs" Act of 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 11:46 AM UTC

The FCC “ABCs” Act of 2017 would change how the Federal Communications Commission creates rules. It requires the FCC to include a benefit‑cost analysis for any rule that could have an economically significant impact—defined as $100 million or more per year or a material adverse effect on the economy, jobs, competition, the environment, public health, safety, or government entities. The bill also sets two presumptions that make it easier for the FCC to roll back or not enforce regulations unless there is clear evidence to the contrary.

Key Provisions

For any proposed or final FCC rule that could affect the economy by $100 million annually or cause a material adverse effect, the FCC must publish an analysis showing that the benefits outweigh the costs.
When deciding whether to forgo (forbear) from enforcing a regulation, the FCC must presume the forbearance requirements are met unless clear and convincing evidence shows otherwise.
During the FCC’s biennial regulatory review, the agency must presume a regulation is no longer needed in the public interest if there is meaningful economic competition among telecom providers, unless clear evidence disproves this.
The bill does not provide any new funding for these requirements.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

January 13, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 13, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

January 13, 2017

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 557 on the floor

1 Republican

Sen. David PerdueR-GA · Sep 27, 2018

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 557, H.R. 4254. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported…

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 13, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 557

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 13, 2017

Mr. Latta introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reform the Federal Communications Commission by requiring an analysis of benefits and costs during the rule making process and creating certain presumptions regarding regulatory forbearance and biennial regulatory review determinations.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the FCC ‘ABCs’ Act of 2017.

2.

Analysis of benefits and costs in FCC rule making process

(a)

In general

Section 4 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 154) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(p)

(1)

In the case of a proposed or final rule (including a proposed or final amendment to an existing rule) that may have an economically significant impact, the Commission shall include in the notice of proposed rule making or final rule, respectively, an analysis of the benefits and costs of the proposed or final rule that demonstrates that the benefits outweigh the costs, recognizing that some benefits and costs are difficult to quantify.

(2)

For purposes of this subsection, the term economically significant impact means an effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more annually or a material adverse effect on the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities.

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(b)

No additional appropriations authorized

The amendment made by subsection (a) does not authorize any appropriations for the express purpose, in whole or in part, of carrying out such amendment.

3.

Presumption regarding regulatory forbearance determination

Section 10 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 160) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(f)

Presumption

In making a determination under subsection (a), the Commission shall presume, absent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, that the requirements for forbearance under such subsection are met.

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4.

Presumption regarding biennial regulatory review determination

Section 11 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 161) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(c)

Presumption

In making a determination under subsection (a)(2), the Commission shall presume, absent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, that the regulation is no longer necessary in the public interest as the result of meaningful economic competition between providers of telecommunications service.

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