Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act of 2015

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to consolidate the reporting obligations of the Federal Communications Commission in order to improve congressional oversight and reduce reporting burdens. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act of 2015 2. Communications marketplace report Title I of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq. 13. Communications marketplace report (a) In general In the last quarter of every even-numbered year, the Commission shall publish on its website and submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the state of the communications marketplace. (b) Contents Each report required by subsection (a) shall— (1) assess the state of competition in the communications marketplace, including competition to deliver voice, video, audio, and data services among providers of telecommunications, providers of commercial mobile service (as defined in section 332), multichannel video programming distributors (as defined in section 602), broadcast stations, providers of satellite communications, Internet service providers, and other providers of communications services; (2) assess the state of deployment of communications capabilities, including advanced telecommunications capability (as defined in section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 ( 47 U.S.C. 1302 (3) assess whether laws, regulations, or regulatory practices (whether those of the Federal Government, States, political subdivisions of States, Indian tribes or tribal organizations (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 450b (4) describe the agenda of the Commission for the next 2-year period for addressing the challenges and opportunities in the communications marketplace that were identified through the assessments under paragraphs (1) through (3); and (5) describe the actions that the Commission has taken in pursuit of the agenda described pursuant to paragraph (4) in the previous report submitted under this section. (c) Extension If the President designates a Commissioner as Chairman of the Commission during the last quarter of an even-numbered year, the portion of the report required by subsection (b)(4) may be published on the website of the Commission and submitted to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate as an addendum during the first quarter of the following odd-numbered year. (d) Special requirements (1) Assessing competition In assessing the state of competition under subsection (b)(1), the Commission shall consider all forms of competition, including the effect of intermodal competition, facilities-based competition, and competition from new and emergent communications services, including the provision of content and communications using the Internet. (2) Assessing deployment In assessing the state of deployment under subsection (b)(2), the Commission shall compile a list of geographical areas that are not served by any provider of advanced telecommunications capability. (3) International comparisons and demographic information The Commission may use readily available data to draw appropriate comparisons between the United States communications marketplace and the international communications marketplace and to correlate its assessments with demographic information. (4) Considering small businesses In assessing the state of competition under subsection (b)(1) and regulatory barriers under subsection (b)(3), the Commission shall consider market entry barriers for entrepreneurs and other small businesses in the communications marketplace in accordance with the national policy under section 257(b). (5) Considering cable rates In assessing the state of competition under subsection (b)(1), the Commission shall include in each report required by subsection (a) the aggregate average total amount paid by cable systems in compensation under section 325 during the period covered by such report. . 3. Consolidation of redundant reports; conforming amendments (a) ORBIT Act Report Section 646 of the Communications Satellite Act of 1962 ( 47 U.S.C. 765e (b) Satellite Competition Report Section 4 of Public Law 109–34 47 U.S.C. 703 (c) International Broadband Data Report Section 103 of the Broadband Data Improvement Act ( 47 U.S.C. 1303 (1) by striking subsection (b); and (2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as subsections (b) through (d), respectively. (d) Status of Competition in the Market for the Delivery of Video Programming Report Section 628 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 548 (1) by striking subsection (g); (2) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (g); and (3) by transferring subsection (g) (as redesignated) so that it appears after subsection (f). (e) Report on Cable Industry Prices (1) In general Section 623 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 543 (A) by striking subsection (k); and (B) by redesignating subsections (l) through (o) as subsections (k) through (n), respectively. (2) Conforming amendment Section 613(a)(3) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 533(a)(3) 623(l) 623(k) (f) Triennial Report Identifying and Eliminating Market Entry Barriers for Entrepreneurs and Other Small Businesses Section 257 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 257 (g) Section 706 Report Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 ( 47 U.S.C. 1302 (1) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: (b) Determination If the Commission determines in its report under section 13 of the Communications Act of 1934, after considering the availability of advanced telecommunications capability to all Americans (including, in particular, elementary and secondary schools and classrooms), that advanced telecommunications capability is not being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion, the Commission shall take immediate action to accelerate deployment of such capability by removing barriers to infrastructure investment and by promoting competition in the telecommunications market. ; (2) by striking subsection (c); (3) in subsection (d), by striking this subsection this section (4) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c). (h) State of Competitive Market Conditions with respect to Commercial Mobile Radio Services Section 332(c)(1)(C) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 332(c)(1)(C) (i) Previously eliminated annual report (1) In general Section 4 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 154 (A) by striking subsection (k); and (B) by redesignating subsections (l) through (o) as subsections (k) through (n), respectively. (2) Conforming amendments The Communications Act of 1934 is amended— (A) in section 9(i), by striking In the Commission’s annual report, the Commission shall prepare an analysis of its progress in developing such systems and The Commission (B) in section 309(j)(8)(B), by striking the last sentence. (j) Additional outdated reports The Communications Act of 1934 is further amended— (1) in section 4— (A) in subsection (b)(2)(B)(ii), by striking and shall furnish notice of such action subject of the waiver (B) in subsection (g), by striking paragraph (2); (2) in section 215— (A) by striking subsection (b); and (B) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b); (3) in section 227(e), by striking paragraph (4); (4) in section 309(j)— (A) by striking paragraph (12); and (B) in paragraph (15)(C), by striking clause (iv); (5) in section 331(b), by striking the last sentence; (6) in section 336(e), by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows: (4) Report The Commission shall annually advise the Congress on the amounts collected pursuant to the program required by this subsection. ; (7) in section 339(c), by striking paragraph (1); (8) in section 396— (A) by striking subsection (i); (B) in subsection (k)— (i) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraph (F); and (ii) in paragraph (3)(B)(iii), by striking subclause (V); (C) in subsection (l)(1)(B), by striking shall be included The audit report (D) by striking subsection (m); (9) in section 398(b)(4), by striking the third sentence; (10) in section 624A(b)(1)— (A) by striking Report; regulations Regulations (B) by striking Within 1 year after on means of assuring The Commission shall issue such regulations as are necessary to assure (C) by striking Within 180 days after to assure such compatibility. (11) in section 713, by striking subsection (a). 4. Effect on authority Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall be construed to expand or contract the authority of the Federal Communications Commission. 5. Other reports Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall be construed to prohibit or otherwise prevent the Federal Communications Commission from producing any additional reports otherwise within the authority of the Commission. February 24, 2015 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Summary: Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to replace various reporting requirements with a communications marketplace report that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is required to publish on its website and submit to Congress every two years assessing: (1) competition in the communications marketplace; (2) deployment of communications capabilities, including whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion; and (3) whether laws, regulations, or regulatory practices pose a barrier to competitive entry or expansion of existing providers of communications services. Requires the report to describe the FCC's actions in the marketplace and its agenda for the next two years. Directs the FCC to: (1) compile a list of geographic areas that are not served by any provider of advanced telecommunications capability; and (2) consider market entry barriers for entrepreneurs and small businesses in accordance with national policy favoring diversity of media voices, competition, technological advancement, and promotion of the public interest, convenience, and necessity. Requires the FCC's competition assessments to include the aggregate average total amount paid by cable systems for retransmission consent. (Sec. 3) Repeals or consolidates various reports of the FCC and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, including reports on satellite competition, international broadband, video programming, cable industry prices, small business entry barriers, commercial mobile radio, services to minority and diverse audiences, waivers from requirements prohibiting FCC employees from being financially interested in companies subject to FCC regulation, and several other existing reports under such Act. Amends the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to require the FCC to determine from the communications marketplace report every two years (currently, in an inquiry initiated each year) whether it must act immediately to accelerate deployment of advanced telecommunications capabilities, particularly in elementary and secondary schools, by removing barriers to infrastructure investment and promoting competition.