PHONE Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-678
Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5]
Introduced: 2021-02-01 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Telecommunication rates and fees
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-01
text: 

Preserving Home and Office Numbers in Emergencies Act of 2021 or the PHONE Act of 2021

 
This bill restricts the reassignment of a telephone number assigned to a subscriber for the provision of fixed wireline voice service.
 
Specifically, for up to one year after a major disaster has been declared, a number may not be reassigned except at the request of the subscriber. At the request of a subscriber, this prohibition must be extended for an additional year. 
 
Further, a subscriber may cancel service without a cancellation fee and resubscribe with the same number and no fee if the subscriber is located in a disaster area and the residence where the number is located is inaccessible or uninhabitable. 

action_date: 2021-07-20
text: 

Preserving Home and Office Numbers in Emergencies Act of 2021 or the PHONE Act of 2021

 
This bill restricts the reassignment of a telephone number assigned to a subscriber for the provision of fixed wireline voice service.
 
Specifically, for up to one year after a major disaster has been declared, a number may not be reassigned except at the request of the subscriber. At the request of a subscriber, this prohibition must be extended for an additional year. 
 
Further, a subscriber may cancel service without a cancellation fee and resubscribe with the same number and no fee if the subscriber is located in a disaster area and the residence where the number is located is inaccessible or uninhabitable. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-07-20
text: Pursuant to section 7 of H. Res. 535, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 678; H.R. 1036; H.R. 1079, as amended; H.R. 1158; H.R. 1250; H.R. 1754; H.R. 1833, as amended; H.R. 1850; H.R. 1871; H.R. 1877, as amended; H.R. 1893; H.R. 1895; H.R. 2118; H.R. 2795, as amended; H.R. 2928; H.R. 2980, as amended; H.R. 3003; H.R. 3138, as amended; H.R. 3223; H.R. 3263; and H.R. 3264; and the following resolutions were agreed to under suspension of the rules: H. Res. 277; and H. Res. 294. (consideration: CR H3715-3730; text: CR H3716)
action_date: 2021-07-20
text: Passed/agreed to in House: Pursuant to section 7 of H. Res. 535, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 678; H.R. 1036; H.R. 1079, as amended; H.R. 1158; H.R. 1250; H.R. 1754; H.R. 1833, as amended; H.R. 1850; H.R. 1871; H.R. 1877, as amended; H.R. 1893; H.R. 1895; H.R. 2118; H.R. 2795, as amended; H.R. 2928; H.R. 2980, as amended; H.R. 3003; H.R. 3138, as amended; H.R. 3223; H.R. 3263; and H.R. 3264; and the following resolutions were agreed to under suspension of the rules: H. Res. 277; and H. Res. 294.(consideration: CR H3715-3730; text: CR H3716)
action_date: 2021-07-20
text: Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 535, proceedings on H.R. 678 are considered vacated.
action_date: 2021-07-19
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: 2021-07-19
text: Mr. Pallone moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2021-07-19
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 678.
action_date: 2021-07-19
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3647-3650; text: CR H3647-3648)
action_date: 2021-02-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
action_date: 2021-02-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2021-02-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-01
text: Introduced in House