Help Americans Never Get Unwanted Phone calls Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-564
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2017-03-08
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Debt collection

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Public contracts and procurement

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2017-03-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-03-08
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Help Americans Never Get Unwanted Phone Calls Act of 2017 or the HANGUP Act </b></p> <p>This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to repeal provisions that authorize the use of automated telephone equipment (robocall or robotext equipment) to call cellular telephones or residential telephone lines for the purpose of collecting debts owed to the U.S. government. </p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 564 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 8, 2017 Mr. Markey (for himself and Mr. Lee ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To repeal debt collection amendments made by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Help Americans Never Get Unwanted Phone calls Act of 2017 or HANGUP Act . 2. Repeal of debt collection amendments; clarifying coverage with respect to government contractors (a) In general The Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) is amended— (1) in section 3 ( 47 U.S.C. 153 ), by striking paragraph (39) and inserting the following: (39) Person The term person — (A) includes an individual, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, or corporation; and (B) for the purposes of section 227, includes— (i) a contractor of— (I) the United States Government; or (II) any State or local government; and (ii) an entity of any legal form. ; and (2) in section 227(b) ( 47 U.S.C. 227(b) )— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) in subparagraph (A)(iii), by striking , unless such call is made solely to collect a debt owed to or guaranteed by the United States ; and (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking , is made solely pursuant to the collection of a debt owed to or guaranteed by the United States, ; and (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (F)(ii), by adding and at the end; (ii) in subparagraph (G)(ii), by striking ; and at the end and inserting a period; and (iii) by striking subparagraph (H). (b) Regulations Section 301(b) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 ( 47 U.S.C. 227 note; Public Law 114–74 ) is repealed.