HR 1644 · 116th Congress 2019–2021, ended

Save the Internet Act of 2019

Introduced Mar 8, 2019 Originated House Sponsor Michael F. Doyle D-PA

Fact sheet

Latest action · Apr 29, 2019 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 74.

Progress

Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

  1. IntroducedMar 8, 2019
  2. Passed HouseApr 10, 2019
  3. Passed SenateNot reached
  4. To the PresidentNot reached
  5. Became lawNot reached

Summary

Save the Internet Act of 2019

This bill updates the regulatory framework for broadband access. Specifically, the bill repeals a 2017 order adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that classifies broadband internet access service as an information service, therefore placing it under Federal Trade Commission authority. The order also expands the public transparency rules and preempts local and state laws that conflict with the regulatory framework.

The bill restores a 2015 FCC order, which classifies both mobile and fixed broadband internet access services as telecommunications services, therefore placing the services under FCC authority. Additionally, the bill would create a general conduct standard and restore regulations, including those that prohibit blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization.

The bill establishes an exception for small businesses to certain transparency requirements relating to performance characteristics and network practices, and it directs the FCC to engage with tribal stakeholders regarding broadband access service challenges on tribal lands.

Among other reports, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on

  • the internet ecosystem,
  • the importance of open internet rules to vulnerable communities,
  • broadband internet access service competition,
  • high-speed infrastructure,
  • challenges to accurate broadband mapping, and
  • the benefits of stand-alone broadband.

Recorded votes 5

Newest first. Open one to see how every member voted.

Roll callQuestionResultDate
House 167Passed232–190Apr 10, 2019
House 166Failed204–216Apr 10, 2019
House 165Agreed to423–0Apr 10, 2019
House 164Agreed to376–46Apr 10, 2019
House 163Agreed to363–60Apr 10, 2019

Cosponsors 197

Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Mar 8, 2019 to Apr 4, 2019, with 132 there on the day it was introduced.

SeatCosponsorSigned on
D-VAA. Donald McEachinOriginalMar 8, 2019
D-CAAdam B. SchiffOriginalMar 8, 2019
D-WAAdam SmithOriginalMar 8, 2019
D-NYAdriano EspaillatOriginalMar 8, 2019
D-CAAlan S. LowenthalOriginalMar 8, 2019
D-NJAlbio SiresOriginalMar 8, 2019
D-NJAndy KimOriginalMar 8, 2019
D-MIAndy LevinOriginalMar 8, 2019
D-NHAnn M. KusterOriginalMar 8, 2019
D-CAAnna G. EshooOriginalMar 8, 2019
D-NYAntonio DelgadoOriginalMar 8, 2019
D-CABarbara LeeOriginalMar 8, 2019
D-NMBen Ray LujánOriginalMar 8, 2019
D-MNBetty McCollumOriginalMar 8, 2019
D-NJBill Pascrell, Jr.OriginalMar 8, 2019
Show all 197 cosponsors

Actions 48

Everything that happened, newest first.

  1. Apr 29, 2019Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 74.
  2. Apr 11, 2019Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
  3. Apr 10, 2019Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3224-3239)
  4. Apr 10, 2019DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 294, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Brindisi amendment No. 10.
  5. Apr 10, 2019DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 294, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Davids (KS) amendment No. 7.
Show all 48 actions

Amendments 12

Amendments offered to this bill.

AmendmentDescriptionOffered byStatus
HAmdt 157An amendment numbered 1 printed in Part A of House Report 116-37 to direct GAO to initiate a study to examine the influence of all entities on the virtuous cycle of the internet ecosystem and whether such rules protect the access of consumers to a free and open internet.Michael C. Burgess R-TXOn agreeing to the Burgess amendment (A001) Agreed to by voice vote.
HAmdt 158An amendment numbered 2 printed in Part A of House Report 116-37 to require the FCC to share the list of 700 rules that will be permanently forborne by the FCC should this bill become law.Robert E. Latta R-OHOn agreeing to the Latta amendment (A002) Agreed to by voice vote.
HAmdt 159An amendment numbered 3 printed in Part A of House Report 116-37 to direct the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report to Congress examining the importance of 2015 Open Internet Order to ethnic and racial minorities, socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, rural populations, individuals with disabilities, and the elderly.Maxine Waters D-CAOn agreeing to the Waters amendment (A003) Agreed to by voice vote.
HAmdt 160Amendment requires GAO to produce a report, within 1 year, reviewing the benefits to consumers of broadband internet access providers offering broadband internet access service on a standalone basis and what steps Congress can take to increase the availability of standalone broadband internet access service to consumers, particularly those living in rural areas.Antonio Delgado D-NYOn agreeing to the Delgado amendment (A004) Agreed to by recorded vote: 363 - 60 (Roll no. 163).
HAmdt 161An amendment numbered 5 printed in Part A of House Report 116-37 to require the FCC to submit a report, within 1 year of enactment, to the Committees of Jurisdiction that describes all enforcement actions taken since enactment by the FCC with respect to persons engaged in the provision of broadband Internet access service.Katie Porter D-CAOn agreeing to the Porter amendment (A005) Agreed to by voice vote.
Show all 12 amendments

Related bills 2

Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.

BillTitleRelationshipLatest action
HRES 294Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1644) to restore the open internet order of the Federal Communications Commission; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2021) to amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 andRelated billApr 9, 2019
S 682Save the Internet Act of 2019Related billMar 6, 2019

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications.

Text 4

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

  1. Apr 29, 2019Placed on Calendar Senate
  2. Apr 10, 2019Engrossed in House
  3. Apr 5, 2019Reported in House
  4. Mar 8, 2019Introduced in House

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Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov.