CONNECT at Home Act

To institute a moratorium on disconnections of telephone and internet services. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Continuing Online Networking, Negating Economic Conditions on Technology at Home Act CONNECT at Home Act 2. Moratorium on disconnection of telephone and internet services (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Commission The term Commission (2) COVID–19 emergency The term COVID–19 emergency 50 U.S.C. 1601 (3) Internet service The term internet service (4) Low-income individual The term low-income individual (5) Voice service (A) In general The term voice service 47 U.S.C. 227(e)(8) (B) Applicability During the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on the day before the effective date of the amendment made by section 503(a)(2)(C) of division P of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 ( Public Law 115–141 (b) Moratorium (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning on March 13, 2020, and ending on the date that is 180 days after the date on which the COVID–19 emergency terminates, a provider of voice service or internet service may not terminate the provision of that service to a customer. (2) Violations prior to enactment (A) Reinstatement of service Any provider of voice service or internet service that terminated the provision of that service to a customer during the period beginning on March 13, 2020, and ending on the day before the date of enactment of this Act shall immediately resume providing the service upon the date of enactment of this Act. (B) Final deadline If a provider of voice service or internet service described in subparagraph (A) does not resume providing service in accordance with that subparagraph by the date that is 14 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the provider shall be deemed to be in violation of this subsection on and after such 14th day after the date of enactment of this Act. (c) Exceptions Subsection (b) shall not apply to the termination of the provision of voice service or internet service to a customer— (1) at the request of the customer; (2) to protect the network of the provider from abuse; (3) in cooperation with a law enforcement agency to protect life and safety in exigent circumstances; (4) under a valid court order; or (5) in accordance with section 512 of title 17, United States Code. (d) Enforcement (1) Civil forfeiture (A) In general Any person that is determined by the Commission, in accordance with paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 503(b) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 503(b) (B) Recovery Any forfeiture penalty determined under subparagraph (A) shall be recoverable in accordance with section 504(a) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 504(a) (C) Procedure No forfeiture liability shall be determined under subparagraph (A) against any person unless the person receives the notice required under paragraph (3) or (4) of section 503(b) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 503(b) (D) 2-year statute of limitations No forfeiture penalty shall be determined or imposed against any person under subparagraph (A) if the violation charged occurred more than 2 years prior to the date of issuance of the required notice or notice or apparent liability. (E) Use of forfeiture amounts Notwithstanding section 504(a) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 504(a) (2) Private right of action (A) In general A person may, if otherwise permitted by the laws or rules of court of a State, bring in an appropriate court of that State— (i) an action based on a violation of subsection (b) to enjoin the violation; (ii) an action to recover for actual monetary loss from a violation of subsection (b); or (iii) both such actions. (B) Willful or knowing violation If the court finds that the defendant willfully or knowingly violated subsection (b), the court may, in its discretion— (i) increase the amount of the award to an amount equal to not more than 3 times the amount that would otherwise be available under subparagraph (A)(ii); and (ii) award the plaintiff reasonable attorney's fees and costs. (C) Private right of action not waivable Notwithstanding chapter 1 Federal Arbitration Act (3) Enforcement by States (A) In general The chief legal officer of a State, or any other State officer authorized by law to bring actions on behalf of the residents of a State, may bring a civil action, as parens patriae, on behalf of the residents of that State in an appropriate district court of the United States to enforce subsection (b) or to impose the civil penalties for violation of subsection (b), whenever the chief legal officer or other State officer has reason to believe that the interests of the residents of the State have been or are being threatened or adversely affected by a violation of subsection (b). (B) Notice The chief legal officer or other State officer shall serve written notice on the Commission of any civil action under subparagraph (A) prior to initiating the civil action. The notice shall include a copy of the complaint to be filed to initiate the civil action, except that if it is not feasible for the State to provide such prior notice, the State shall provide the notice immediately upon instituting the civil action. (C) Authority to intervene Upon receiving the notice required under subparagraph (B), the Commission may— (i) intervene in the action; (ii) upon so intervening, be heard on all matters arising therein; and (iii) file petitions for appeal. (D) Construction For purposes of bringing any civil action under subparagraph (A), nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the chief legal officer or other State officer from exercising the powers conferred on that officer by the laws of the State to conduct investigations or to administer oaths or affirmations or to compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documentary and other evidence. (E) Venue; service or process (i) Venue An action brought under subparagraph (A) shall be brought in a district court of the United States that meets applicable requirements relating to venue under section 1391 of title 28, United States Code. (ii) Service of process In an action brought under subparagraph (A)— (I) process may be served without regard to the territorial limits of the district or of the State in which the action is instituted; and (II) a person who participated in an alleged violation that is being litigated in the civil action may be joined in the civil action without regard to the residence of the person. (e) No waiver or forbearance Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 151 (1) waive the application of this section to any person; (2) forbear from applying this section; (3) prevent or hinder any person from exercising the private right of action under subsection (d)(2); or (4) prevent or hinder an officer of a State from carrying out subsection (d)(3). (f) Preemption (1) In general This section shall supersede any law of a State to the extent that the law directly conflicts with this section. (2) Floor A law of a State shall not be considered to be in direct conflict with this section if the law affords a greater level of protection to customers protected under this section.

Summary: Continuing Online Networking, Negating Economic Conditions on Technology at Home Act or the CONNECT at Home Act This bill prohibits a voice or internet service provider from terminating service to a customer during the national emergency declared due to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) and for 180 days thereafter. A provider that terminated voice or internet service to a customer following the emergency declaration and prior to the enactment of this bill must resume providing such service upon the date of enactment. Terminating or failing to resume providing such service will result in a forfeiture penalty, and the proceeds of any such penalties collected shall be used to provide assistance to low-income individuals who lack access to affordable broadband service due to COVID-19.