Title: PSC Oversight Act of 2017
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Preserving State Commission Oversight Act of 2017 or the PSC Oversight Act of 2017
This bill nullifies a Federal Communications Commission regulation that prohibits a state commission from designating Lifeline broadband providers that are eligible to accept government subsidies in exchange for providing discounted Internet service to qualifying low-income consumers under the universal service program.
The bill also amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit anything in such Act or the Telecommunications Act of 1996 from being construed as modifying or limiting the jurisdiction of any state commission to designate a telecommunications carrier eligible to receive universal service support.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 421 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 421

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to protect low-income Lifeline 
 subscribers by mandating a continuing role for States in designating 
eligible telecommunications carriers for participation in the Universal 
                Service program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 16, 2017

Mrs. Fischer (for herself and Mr. Udall) introduced the following bill; 
    which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to protect low-income Lifeline 
 subscribers by mandating a continuing role for States in designating 
eligible telecommunications carriers for participation in the Universal 
                Service program, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Preserving State Commission 
Oversight Act of 2017'' or the ``PSC Oversight Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. LIFELINE BROADBAND PROVIDERS.

    (a) No Force or Effect.--On and after the date of enactment of this 
Act, paragraph (j) of section 54.201 of title 47, Code of Federal 
Regulations, shall have no force or effect.
    (b) Removal From Rules.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall 
amend section 54.201 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, by 
striking paragraph (j).

SEC. 3. STATE DUTY TO DESIGNATE ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS.

    Section 214(e) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 214(e)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this Act or in the 
        Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-104; 110 Stat. 
        56) may be construed as modifying or effectively limiting the 
        jurisdiction of any State commission to designate an eligible 
        telecommunications carrier under this subsection.''.
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