E-FRONTIER Act

Bill: 116-hr-2063
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cárdenas, Tony [D-CA-29]
Introduced: 2019-04-03
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Asia

China

Computer security and identity theft

Congressional oversight

Executive agency funding and structure

Government studies and investigations

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Iran

Middle East

Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Russia

Subversive activities

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-04-03
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Eliminate From Regulators Opportunities to Nationalize The Internet in Every Respect Act or the E-FRONTIER Act</b></p> <p>This bill constrains the President and executive agencies from constructing, operating, or offering wholesale or retail service on a broadband network unless given authority to do so by Congress. </p> <p>The Government Accountability Office must study and report on potential threats facing U.S. broadband networks from China, Iran, Russia, and other foreign adversaries and the risks&nbsp;of using foreign equipment and services in U.S. broadband networks. </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2063 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 3, 2019 Mr. Cárdenas (for himself, Mrs. Brooks of Indiana , Mr. Vela , and Mr. Banks ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To prohibit the President or a Federal agency from constructing, operating, or offering wholesale or retail services on broadband networks without authorization from Congress, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Eliminate From Regulators Opportunities to Nationalize The Internet in Every Respect Act or the E-FRONTIER Act . 2. Prohibition against the President or a Federal agency constructing, operating, or offering services on broadband networks (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term agency has the meaning given the term in section 902 of title 5, United States Code; (2) the term broadband network — (A) means a communications network, the primary purpose of which is to provide consumers with the capability to transmit data to and receive data from all or substantially all internet endpoints; and (B) includes a next-generation mobile broadband network; (3) the term nationwide public safety broadband network has the meaning given the term in section 6001 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 ( 47 U.S.C. 1401 ); and (4) the term President means the President of the United States. (b) Prohibition Neither the President nor an agency may construct, operate, or offer wholesale or retail service on a broadband network unless a duly enacted Act of Congress signed into law by the President provides the President or the agency, as applicable, with that authority. (c) Rules of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to— (1) limit, restrict, or circumvent in any way— (A) the implementation of the nationwide public safety broadband network; or (B) any rules implementing the nationwide public safety broadband network under title VI of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 ( 47 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.); (2) affect the authority of the President under section 706 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 606 ); (3) prevent— (A) an agency from providing another agency with access to a broadband network; or (B) a private entity from obtaining access to a broadband network at a facility that is owned or operated by the Federal Government if that entity is under a contract to provide services at that facility; or (4) affect the authority of the Federal Communications Commission under the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.). 3. Report on vulnerabilities of United States broadband networks (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term appropriate committees of Congress means— (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; (B) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; (C) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; (D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; (E) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives; and (F) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and (2) the term broadband network has the meaning given the term in section 2(a). (b) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report, which shall include— (1) a discussion and analysis of— (A) potential threats facing broadband networks in the United States from— (i) the Government of the People’s Republic of China; (ii) the Government of Iran; (iii) the Government of the Russian Federation; and (iv) any other potential foreign adversary of the United States; and (B) the risks associated with using foreign equipment and services in broadband networks in the United States; and (2) recommendations, if any, regarding how service providers with respect to broadband networks in the United States can reduce the vulnerabilities of those networks to foreign threats.