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Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2017

USA115th CongressHR-460| House 
| Updated: 1/24/2017
David Young

David Young

Republican Representative

Iowa

Cosponsors (11)
Chris Stewart (Republican)David Loebsack (Democratic)Richard M. Nolan (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Kristi L. Noem (Republican)Kevin Cramer (Republican)Blaine Luetkemeyer (Republican)Ron Kind (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Robert E. Latta (Republican)Sean P. Duffy (Republican)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require intermediate providers that offer the capability to transmit voice communications and signaling information from one destination to another, and that charge a rate to any other entity (including an affiliated entity) for such a transmission, to: (1) register with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and (2) comply with service quality standards to be established by the FCC. An "intermediate provider" is an entity that: (1) enters a business arrangement with a long-distance voice service provider that makes the initial call path choice for more than 100,000 domestic retail subscriber lines, or with another intermediate provider, to carry, route, or transmit voice traffic from a call placed from or to an end user connection using a North American Numbering Plan resource; and (2) does not itself (directly or in conjunction with an affiliate) serve as such a long-distance initial call path choice provider in the context of originating or terminating a given call. The bill prohibits such long-distance providers (including local exchange carriers, interexchange carriers, commercial mobile radio services, interconnected voice over Internet Protocol [VoIP] services, and certain non-interconnected VoIP services) from using an intermediate provider to transmit voice communications and signals unless the intermediate provider is so registered. The FCC must: (1) ensure the integrity of the transmission of voice communications to all customers in the United States, (2) prevent unjust or unreasonable discrimination among areas of the United States in the delivery of such voice communications, and (3) make a registry of intermediate providers publicly available on the FCC website. The bill shall not be construed to preempt or expand the authority of a state agency or public utility commission to collect data, or enforce state law and regulations, regarding the completion of intrastate voice communications. Certain long-distance providers that make initial call path choices are exempt from service quality standards that the FCC is required to establish under this bill if they certify under a safe harbor provision in existing FCC rules that they monitor the performance of, or do not use, intermediate providers.

Bill Text Versions

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3 versions available

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Timeline
Jan 11, 2017
Introduced in House
Jan 11, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jan 23, 2017
Mr. Lance moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Jan 23, 2017
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H582-586; H583-586)
Jan 23, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 460.
Jan 23, 2017
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text of measure as passed: CR H582-583; H583-584)
Jan 23, 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text of measure as passed: CR H582-583; H583-584)
Jan 23, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jan 24, 2017
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Feb 26, 2018

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 115-96
Signed by President.
  • January 11, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • January 11, 2017
    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.


  • January 23, 2017
    Mr. Lance moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • January 23, 2017
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H582-586; H583-586)


  • January 23, 2017
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 460.


  • January 23, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text of measure as passed: CR H582-583; H583-584)


  • January 23, 2017
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text of measure as passed: CR H582-583; H583-584)


  • January 23, 2017
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • January 24, 2017
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • February 26, 2018

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 115-96
    Signed by President.

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • S 115-96: Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2017
  • HR 115-4986: RAY BAUM'S Act of 2018
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Federal preemptionGovernment information and archivesState and local government operationsTelephone and wireless communication

Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2017

USA115th CongressHR-460| House 
| Updated: 1/24/2017
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require intermediate providers that offer the capability to transmit voice communications and signaling information from one destination to another, and that charge a rate to any other entity (including an affiliated entity) for such a transmission, to: (1) register with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and (2) comply with service quality standards to be established by the FCC. An "intermediate provider" is an entity that: (1) enters a business arrangement with a long-distance voice service provider that makes the initial call path choice for more than 100,000 domestic retail subscriber lines, or with another intermediate provider, to carry, route, or transmit voice traffic from a call placed from or to an end user connection using a North American Numbering Plan resource; and (2) does not itself (directly or in conjunction with an affiliate) serve as such a long-distance initial call path choice provider in the context of originating or terminating a given call. The bill prohibits such long-distance providers (including local exchange carriers, interexchange carriers, commercial mobile radio services, interconnected voice over Internet Protocol [VoIP] services, and certain non-interconnected VoIP services) from using an intermediate provider to transmit voice communications and signals unless the intermediate provider is so registered. The FCC must: (1) ensure the integrity of the transmission of voice communications to all customers in the United States, (2) prevent unjust or unreasonable discrimination among areas of the United States in the delivery of such voice communications, and (3) make a registry of intermediate providers publicly available on the FCC website. The bill shall not be construed to preempt or expand the authority of a state agency or public utility commission to collect data, or enforce state law and regulations, regarding the completion of intrastate voice communications. Certain long-distance providers that make initial call path choices are exempt from service quality standards that the FCC is required to establish under this bill if they certify under a safe harbor provision in existing FCC rules that they monitor the performance of, or do not use, intermediate providers.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jan 11, 2017
Introduced in House
Jan 11, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jan 23, 2017
Mr. Lance moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Jan 23, 2017
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H582-586; H583-586)
Jan 23, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 460.
Jan 23, 2017
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text of measure as passed: CR H582-583; H583-584)
Jan 23, 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text of measure as passed: CR H582-583; H583-584)
Jan 23, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jan 24, 2017
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Feb 26, 2018

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 115-96
Signed by President.
  • January 11, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • January 11, 2017
    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.


  • January 23, 2017
    Mr. Lance moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • January 23, 2017
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H582-586; H583-586)


  • January 23, 2017
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 460.


  • January 23, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text of measure as passed: CR H582-583; H583-584)


  • January 23, 2017
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text of measure as passed: CR H582-583; H583-584)


  • January 23, 2017
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • January 24, 2017
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • February 26, 2018

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 115-96
    Signed by President.
David Young

David Young

Republican Representative

Iowa

Cosponsors (11)
Chris Stewart (Republican)David Loebsack (Democratic)Richard M. Nolan (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Kristi L. Noem (Republican)Kevin Cramer (Republican)Blaine Luetkemeyer (Republican)Ron Kind (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Robert E. Latta (Republican)Sean P. Duffy (Republican)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • S 115-96: Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2017
  • HR 115-4986: RAY BAUM'S Act of 2018
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Federal preemptionGovernment information and archivesState and local government operationsTelephone and wireless communication