Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-734
Sponsor: Rep. Scalise, Steve [R-LA-1]
Introduced: 2015-02-04 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Competition and antitrust
Congressional oversight
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Small business
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-04
text: 

Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act of 2015

 
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to replace various reporting requirements with a communications marketplace report that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is required to publish on its website and submit to Congress every two years assessing: (1) competition in the communications marketplace; (2) deployment of communications capabilities, including whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion; and (3) whether laws, regulations, or regulatory practices pose a barrier to competitive entry or expansion of existing providers of communications services.
 
Requires the report to describe the FCC's actions in the marketplace and its agenda for the next two years. 
 
Directs the FCC to: (1) compile a list of geographic areas that are not served by any provider of advanced telecommunications capability; and (2) consider market entry barriers for entrepreneurs and small businesses in accordance with national policy favoring diversity of media voices, competition, technological advancement, and promotion of the public interest, convenience, and necessity.
 
Requires the FCC's competition assessments to include the aggregate average total amount paid by cable systems for retransmission consent.
 
Repeals or consolidates various reports of the FCC and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, including reports on satellite competition, international broadband, video programming, cable industry prices, small business entry barriers, commercial mobile radio, services to minority and diverse audiences, waivers from requirements prohibiting FCC employees from being financially interested in companies subject to FCC regulation, and several other existing reports under such Act. 
 
Amends the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to require the FCC to determine from the communications marketplace report every two years (currently, in an inquiry initiated each year) whether it must act immediately to accelerate deployment of advanced telecommunications capabilities, particularly in elementary and secondary schools, by removing barriers to infrastructure investment and promoting competition.

action_date: 2015-02-24
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act of 2015

 
(Sec. 2) Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to replace various reporting requirements with a communications marketplace report that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is required to publish on its website and submit to Congress every two years assessing: (1) competition in the communications marketplace; (2) deployment of communications capabilities, including whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion; and (3) whether laws, regulations, or regulatory practices pose a barrier to competitive entry or expansion of existing providers of communications services.
 
Requires the report to describe the FCC's actions in the marketplace and its agenda for the next two years. 
 
Directs the FCC to: (1) compile a list of geographic areas that are not served by any provider of advanced telecommunications capability; and (2) consider market entry barriers for entrepreneurs and small businesses in accordance with national policy favoring diversity of media voices, competition, technological advancement, and promotion of the public interest, convenience, and necessity.
 
Requires the FCC's competition assessments to include the aggregate average total amount paid by cable systems for retransmission consent.
 
(Sec. 3) Repeals or consolidates various reports of the FCC and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, including reports on satellite competition, international broadband, video programming, cable industry prices, small business entry barriers, commercial mobile radio, services to minority and diverse audiences, waivers from requirements prohibiting FCC employees from being financially interested in companies subject to FCC regulation, and several other existing reports under such Act. 
 
Amends the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to require the FCC to determine from the communications marketplace report every two years (currently, in an inquiry initiated each year) whether it must act immediately to accelerate deployment of advanced telecommunications capabilities, particularly in elementary and secondary schools, by removing barriers to infrastructure investment and promoting competition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-25
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 411 - 0 (Roll no. 85). (text: CR H1095-1096)
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 411 - 0 (Roll no. 85).(text: CR H1095-1096)
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1101-1102)
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 734.
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1095-1098)
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: Mr. Walden moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 19.
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 114-27.
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 114-27.
action_date: 2015-02-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
action_date: 2015-02-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2015-02-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-02-04
text: Introduced in House