House of Representatives Passes Five Communications and Technology Bills

The House of Representatives passed the following five communications and technology bills on June 20:

• H.R. 678, the “Preserving Home and Office Numbers in Emergencies Act of 2021” or the “PHONE Act,” would prohibit providers of voice service from reassigning phone numbers of subscribers in certain designated areas, within an area subject to a major disaster declaration, for up to two years after the declaration. The bill also prohibits providers of voice service from assessing early termination fees to cancel service, or connection fees to re-subscribe at a new address, for subscribers whose residence is rendered inaccessible or uninhabitable due to a major disaster.
• H.R. 1250, the “Emergency Reporting Act,” would require the Federal Communications Commissions to establish formal processes to take effect in instances when the FCC activates the Disaster Information Reporting System.
• H.R. 1754, the “Measuring the Economics Driving Investments and Access for Diversity Act of 2021” or the “MEDIA Diversity Act,” would require the FCC to consider, with the input of its Office of Communications Business Opportunities, market entry barriers for socially disadvantaged individuals in the communications marketplace.
• H. Res. 277 is “a resolution reaffirming the commitment of the House of Representatives to media diversity and pledging to work with media entities and diverse stakeholders to develop common ground solutions to eliminate barriers to media diversity.”
• H.R. 3003, the “Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2021,” directs the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to encourage participation by American companies and other stakeholders in standards-setting bodies. It also offers technical assistance to stakeholders that do elect to participate in developing standards for 5G networks and future generations of communications networks.