Title: Foreign Robocall Elimination Act
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Foreign Robocall Elimination Act
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish an interagency task force to study the most effective ways to combat unlawful robocalls made into the United States from foreign sources.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5207 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5207

    To direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish an 
              interagency taskforce on unlawful robocalls.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 10, 2021

 Mr. Budd (for himself, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. Bishop of North Carolina, 
 and Mr. Webster of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish an 
              interagency taskforce on unlawful robocalls.

    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 ``Foreign Robocall Elimination Act''.

SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY TASKFORCE ON UNLAWFUL ROBOCALLS.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission, in 
consultation with the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorney 
General, shall establish an interagency taskforce on unlawful 
robocalls.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The taskforce shall be composed of the 
        following members:
                    (A) A representative of each Federal agency that 
                the Federal Communications Commission, in consultation 
                with the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorney 
                General, considers appropriate, to be appointed by the 
                head of such agency.
                    (B) Three representatives of private-sector 
                entities, to be appointed as described in paragraph 
                (2)--
                            (i) one of whom is a representative of a 
                        provider of telephone service; and
                            (ii) two of whom are representatives of 
                        other private-sector entities with expertise in 
                        combating unlawful robocalls and who may be 
                        technologists and technology experts.
            (2) Appointment of representatives of private-sector 
        entities.--The members of the taskforce described in paragraph 
        (1)(B) shall be jointly appointed by the Chairman of the 
        Federal Communications Commission, the Chairman of the Federal 
        Trade Commission, and the Attorney General. If the Chairman of 
        the Federal Communications Commission, the Chairman of the 
        Federal Trade Commission, and the Attorney General cannot reach 
        agreement regarding such an appointment, as determined by the 
        Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, the Chairman 
        of the Federal Communications Commission shall make such 
        appointment.
    (c) Study.--
            (1) In general.--The taskforce shall conduct a study on 
        unlawful robocalls, including the most effective ways to combat 
        unlawful robocalls made into the United States from outside the 
        United States.
            (2) Matters to be studied.--In conducting the study 
        required by paragraph (1), the taskforce shall--
                    (A) compare the number of unlawful robocalls made 
                within the United States and the number of unlawful 
                robocalls made into the United States from outside the 
                United States;
                    (B) examine methods for encouraging adoption of 
                caller authentication technology in foreign countries;
                    (C) examine and provide information on options for 
                countries to share caller authentication information 
                for international calls;
                    (D) examine how technical solutions such as caller 
                authentication technology would improve coordination 
                between the United States and foreign countries in 
                combating unlawful robocalls;
                    (E) examine ways to incentivize foreign countries 
                to cooperate with United States law enforcement efforts 
                to combat unlawful robocalls;
                    (F) examine ways to incentivize providers of 
                telephone service to take measures to combat unlawful 
                robocalls placed across international borders; and
                    (G) examine whether or not additional resources are 
                needed by any Federal agency that combats unlawful 
                robocalls or any other organization that combats 
                unlawful robocalls, in order to more effectively combat 
                unlawful robocalls made into the United States from 
                outside the United States.
            (3) Collaboration with private sector.--In conducting the 
        study required by paragraph (1), the taskforce shall 
        collaborate with technologists and private-sector innovators, 
        including through the members of the taskforce appointed under 
        subsection (b)(2), to find solutions for combating unlawful 
        robocalls.
    (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 10 months after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the taskforce shall submit to Congress a 
report on the findings of the study required by subsection (c)(1).
    (e) Termination.--The taskforce shall terminate on the date that is 
90 days after the taskforce submits the report required by subsection 
(d).
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Federal agency.--The term ``Federal agency'' has the 
        meaning given the term ``agency'' in section 551 of title 5, 
        United States Code.
            (2) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of the 
        United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, 
        territory, or possession of the United States, and each 
        federally recognized Indian Tribe.
            (3) Taskforce.--The term ``taskforce'' means the taskforce 
        on unlawful robocalls established under subsection (a).
            (4) Unlawful robocall.--The term ``unlawful robocall'' 
        means a telephone call made in violation of--
                    (A) section 227(b) of the Communications Act of 
                1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(b)); or
                    (B) a similar law of a State or a foreign country 
                that prohibits calls made using an automatic telephone 
                dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice.
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