I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 655 
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reform the Federal Commu-
nications Commission by requiring an analysis of benefits and costs 
during the rule making process and creating certain presumptions regard-
ing regulatory forbearance and biennial regulatory review determinations. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 2, 2015 
Mr. LATTA (for himself and Mr. BILIRAKIS) 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 reg-
ulatory forbearance and biennial regulatory review deter-
minations. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘FCC ‘ABCs’ Act of 
2015’’. 
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SEC. 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 (includ-
ing 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 bene-
fits and costs of the proposed or final rule that dem-
onstrates that the benefits outweigh the costs, recognizing 
that some benefits and costs are difficult to quantify. 
‘‘(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘eco-
nomically significant impact’ means an effect on the econ-
omy of $100,000,000 or more annually or a material ad-
verse effect on the economy, a sector of the economy, pro-
ductivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health 
or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or commu-
nities.’’. 
(b) NO
ADDITIONAL
APPROPRIATIONS
AUTHOR-
IZED.—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. 
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SEC. 3. PRESUMPTION REGARDING REGULATORY FOR-
BEARANCE 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, ab-
sent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, that 
the requirements for forbearance under such subsection 
are met.’’. 
SEC. 
4. 
PRESUMPTION 
REGARDING 
BIENNIAL 
REGU-
LATORY 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.’’. 
Æ 
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