Senate Commerce Committee Approves 2 Telecom Bills

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved two telecommunications bills:

 S. 151, Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act, Sponsors: Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Krysten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.)
a. Thune Substitute (modified)   
b. Moran 1

The bill boosts the Federal Communications Commission's authority to fine telemarketers, gives it more time to identify them and take action, and requires carriers to adopt call ID technologies.

S. 918, Eliminate From Regulators Opportunities to Nationalize The Internet In Every Respect Act, Sponsors: Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) 
a. Markey 1