HOUSE 451116th CongressReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act of 2020

Last Action: 9/24/2020

Actions

2020-09-24Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
2020-09-23The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
2020-09-23Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2020-09-23On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 410 - 5 (Roll no. 201). (text: CR 9/21/2020 H4614-4615)
2020-09-23Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 410 - 5 (Roll no. 201).
2020-09-23Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4773-4774)
2020-09-21At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
2020-09-21DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 451.
2020-09-21Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4614-4616)
2020-09-21Mr. McNerney moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2020-09-18Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 421.
2020-09-18Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 116-521.
2020-09-18Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 116-521.
2020-07-15Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
2020-07-15Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Showing 15 of 20 actions. Full history on Congress.gov.

CRS Summary

As of 2020-09-23 (53)

Don't Break Up the T-Band Act of 2020

This bill repeals a provision requiring the reallocation of spectrum currently used by public safety entities and otherwise addresses 9–1–1 fees and charges collected for the purpose of supporting 9–1–1 services.

Specifically, the bill repeals the requirement for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reallocate and auction the 470-512 MHz band (referred to as the T-Band spectrum). The T-Band spectrum is a frequency range currently utilized by public safety entities in certain urban areas.

The bill also requires the FCC to issue rules designating acceptable purposes and functions for the obligation or expenditure of 9–1–1 fees or charges. Such purposes and functions shall be limited to the support and implementation of 9–1–1 services and the operational expenses of public safety answering points (i.e., the points where emergency calls are routed), but a state or taxing jurisdiction may petition the FCC for a determination that other purposes or functions should be treated as acceptable purposes or functions.

In addition, the bill establishes the Ending 9–1–1 Fee Diversion Now Strike Force, to which the FCC must submit any evidence it obtains that a state or taxing jurisdiction is diverting 9–1–1 fees or charges. The strike force must (1) study how the federal government can end such diversion through a determination of the effectiveness of laws and other constraints, (2) consider whether criminal penalties should be implemented to prevent further diversion, and (3) determine the impacts of such diversion.

Cosponsors (20)

Lee Zeldin (R-NY)
Al Green (D-TX)
PETER KING (R-NY)
Max Rose (D-NY)
NITA LOWEY (D-NY)
ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA)
Norma Torres (D-CA)
Stephen Lynch (D-MA)
GRACE NAPOLITANO (D-CA)
WILLIAM PASCRELL (D-NJ)
Seth Moulton (D-MA)
NYDIA VELAZQUEZ (D-NY)
CAROLYN MALONEY (D-NY)
Grace Meng (D-NY)
Kathleen Rice (D-NY)
ELEANOR NORTON (D-DC)
SHEILA JACKSON LEE (D-TX)
Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
MIKE DOYLE (D-PA)
Thomas Suozzi (D-NY)

Subjects

Emergency communications systems
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Licensing and registrations
Radio spectrum allocation
Telephone and wireless communication

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