IB
Union Calendar No. 576
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3011
[Report No. 106–978]
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to improve the disclosure of
information concerning telephone charges, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 5, 1999
Mr. BLILEY (for himself and Mr. TAUZIN) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Commerce
OCTOBER 12, 2000
Additional sponsors: Mr. PICKERING, Mrs. NORTHUP, Mr. TERRY, and Mr.
VITTER
OCTOBER 12, 2000
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to improve the
disclosure of information concerning telephone charges,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 258 is fur-
ther amended by striking the designation and heading of
such section and inserting the following:
‘‘SEC. 258. BILLING PRACTICES.’’.
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Truth in Telephone Bill-
ing Act of 2000’’.
SEC. 2. TELEPHONE BILLING PRACTICES.
(a) AMENDMENT.—Section 258 of the Communications
Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 258) is amended by adding at the
end the following new subsections:
‘‘(c) TRUTH-IN-BILLING.—A telecommunications car-
rier that is required to contribute to, or that is otherwise
assessed for, any support mechanism under section 254, or
any other governmental mechanism, fund, tax, or program,
shall identify on each subscriber’s bill, in simple, plain lan-
guage (of no more than one line of text per dollar
amount)—
‘‘(1) the identity of the governmental mechanism,
fund, tax, or program to which the contribution or as-
sessment is made, and the identity of the govern-
mental authority whose rules require or authorize the
contribution or assessment;
‘‘(2) the basis for the contribution or assessment
(such as per subscriber, per line, or percentage of
some or all charges or revenues); and
‘‘(3) as a separate line-item, the dollar amount
that is being attributed to and collected from such
subscriber for such governmental mechanism, fund,
tax, or program.
‘‘(d) PROHIBITION OF EXCESS CHARGES.—If any tele-
communications carrier that is subject to subsection (c) dis-
closes to its subscribers under paragraph (3) of such sub-
section a total dollar amount for any billing period that
exceeds the total dollar amount such carrier contributes to
or is assessed for the applicable governmental mechanism,
fund, tax, or program for such billing period, such carrier
shall be liable for a forfeiture penalty equal to the amount
of such excess, in addition to any other penalties for which
the carrier may be liable under title V. The Commission
may, by rule, provide for the distribution of any forfeiture
penalties collected under this subsection to the affected sub-
scribers.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 258 is further
amended by striking the designation and heading of such
section and inserting the following:
‘‘SEC. 258. BILLING PRACTICES.’’.
SEC. 3. STUDY REQUIRED.
(a) STUDY
OF SUBSIDY SYSTEM REQUIRED.—The
Comptroller General shall conduct a study of the implicit
and explicit subsidies from the government, taxpayers, and
consumers to providers and consumers of telecommuni-
cations services, including subsidies in support of universal
service required by section 254 of the Communications Act
of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254), the systems for the collection and
distribution of support for rural and high cost areas, lifeline
services, connections of schools and libraries to the Internet,
and rural health care services.
(b) REPORT.—Within one year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to
the Congress a report on the results of the study conducted
under subsection (a).
Union Calendar No. 576
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3011
[Report No. 106–978]
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to im-
prove the disclosure of information concerning
telephone charges, and for other purposes.
OCTOBER 12, 2000
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union,
and ordered to be printed