Title: End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2017
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2017
This bill prohibits a provider of commercial mobile service or commercial mobile data service from receiving universal service support through the Lifeline program, which provides subsidies for discounts on monthly telephone or broadband service to qualifying low-income consumers.
For 2018, telecommunications carriers must contribute to the universal service fund based on mobile service support provided in 2017. The amounts collected for mobile services must be used for deficit reduction.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3546 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3546

To prohibit universal service support of commercial mobile service and 
      commercial mobile data service through the Lifeline program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 28, 2017

 Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Posey, Mr. Flores, Mr. 
Jody B. Hice of Georgia, Mr. Allen, Mr. Norman, Mr. Babin, Mr. Rice of 
South Carolina, Mr. McClintock, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Cook, Mr. Chabot, Mr. 
 Wenstrup, Mr. Brat, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Dunn, Ms. Jenkins of 
  Kansas, and Mr. Crawford) introduced the following bill; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To prohibit universal service support of commercial mobile service and 
      commercial mobile data service through the Lifeline program.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act 
of 2017''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON LIFELINE SUPPORT FOR MOBILE SERVICE.

    (a) In General.--Beginning on January 1, 2018, a provider of 
commercial mobile service or commercial mobile data service may not 
receive universal service support under sections 214(e) and 254 of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 214(e); 254) for the provision of 
such service through the Lifeline program of the Federal Communications 
Commission.
    (b) Contributions.--For calendar year 2018, the amount that 
telecommunications carriers that provide interstate telecommunications 
services and other providers of interstate telecommunications are 
required to contribute under section 254(d) of the Communications Act 
of 1934 to Federal universal service support mechanisms shall be 
determined--
            (1) without regard to subsection (a); and
            (2) as if the same amount of support for the provision of 
        commercial mobile service and commercial mobile data service 
        through the Lifeline program that is provided in calendar year 
        2017 is provided in calendar year 2018.
    (c) Excess Collections.--The amount collected pursuant to 
subsection (b)(2) shall be deposited in the general fund of the 
Treasury of the United States, for the sole purpose of deficit 
reduction. No portion of such amount may be treated as a credit toward 
future contributions required under section 254(d) of the 
Communications Act of 1934.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Commercial mobile data service.--The term ``commercial 
        mobile data service'' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 6001 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation 
        Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1401).
            (2) Commercial mobile service.--The term ``commercial 
        mobile service'' has the meaning given such term in section 332 
        of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332).
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