PHONE Act of 2020

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for a moratorium on number reassignment after a disaster declaration, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preserving Home and Office Numbers in Emergencies Act of 2020 PHONE Act of 2020 2. Moratorium on number reassignment after disaster declaration (a) In general Section 251(e) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 251(e) (4) Moratorium on number reassignment after disaster declaration (A) In general In the case of a number assigned to a subscriber for the provision of fixed wireline voice service at a location in a designated area during a covered period— (i) the number may not be reassigned, except at the request of the subscriber; and (ii) the assignment of the number may not be rescinded or otherwise modified, except at the request of the subscriber. (B) Extension at request of subscriber During the covered period, at the request of a subscriber described in subparagraph (A), the prohibition in subparagraph (A) shall be extended for the number for 1 year after the date on which the covered period expires. (C) Subscriber right to cancel and resubscribe (i) In general In the case of a number described under subparagraph (A) or (B), if the subscriber assigned to such number demonstrates to the provider of the service (or, under subclause (II), any other provider of fixed wireline voice service that serves the local area) that the residence where the number is located is inaccessible or uninhabitable— (I) the provider may not charge the subscriber an early termination or other fee in connection with the cancellation of such service, if cancelled during the covered period or the extension of the period described in subparagraph (B); and (II) if the subscriber cancels the service during the covered period or the extension of the period described in subparagraph (B), the provider (or any other provider of fixed wireline voice service that serves the local area)— (aa) shall permit the subscriber to subscribe or resubscribe, as the case may be, to fixed wireline voice service with the number at the residence or at a different residence (if such number is available in the location of such different residence); and (bb) may not charge the subscriber a connection fee or any other fee relating to the initiation of fixed wireline voice service. (ii) Cancellation without demonstration of inaccessibility or uninhabitability If a subscriber cancels the provision of service assigned to a number described in subparagraph (A) or (B) and does not demonstrate to the provider of such service that the residence where the number is located is inaccessible or uninhabitable as described under clause (i), the number is no longer subject to the prohibition under subparagraph (A) or (B). (D) Identification on commission website The Commission shall publicly identify on the website of the Commission each designated area that is in a covered period, not later than 15 days after the submission of a public designation by a State under subparagraph (E)(iii) with respect to such area. In identifying a designated area under subparagraph (E)(iii), a State shall consult with providers of fixed wireline voice service that serve such area and coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reasonably limit the designated area to areas that have sustained covered damage. (E) Definitions In this paragraph: (i) Covered damage The term covered damage (I) damage that renders residences in such area inaccessible or uninhabitable; or (II) damage that otherwise results in the displacement of subscribers from or within such area. (ii) Covered period The term covered period (I) begins on the date of a declaration by the President of a major disaster under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170 (II) ends on the date that is 1 year after such date. (iii) Designated area The term designated area 42 U.S.C. 5170 (I) covered damage was sustained in such area; and (II) the prohibitions described in this paragraph are necessary and in the public interest. (iv) Voice service The term voice service voice service . (b) Amendment of FCC rules required Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall amend its rules to reflect the requirements of paragraph (4) of section 251(e) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 251(e) (c) Applicability Paragraph (4) of section 251(e) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 251(e) 42 U.S.C. 5170 September 29, 2020 Reported with an amendment; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Summary: Preserving Home and Office Numbers in Emergencies Act of 2020 or the PHONE Act of 2020 This bill restricts the reassignment of a telephone number assigned to a subscriber for the provision of fixed wireline voice service. Specifically, for up to one year after a major disaster has been declared, such number may not be reassigned except at the request of the subscriber. Further, a subscriber may cancel service without a cancellation fee and resubscribe with the same number and no fee if the subscriber is located in a disaster area and the residence where the number is located is inaccessible or uninhabitable.