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 Spreadsheet

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 163On Agreeing to the AmendmentAgreed to363–60Apr 10, 2019

Yea 363

Nay 60

Not voting 14

Cosponsors 197

Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Mar 8, 2019 to Apr 4, 2019; 132 are original cosponsors, there from 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

Committees 1

Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.

ChamberCommitteeWhat it did
HouseEnergy and Commerce Committee
Referred Mar 8, 2019Markup Apr 3, 2019Reported Apr 5, 2019
Communications and Technology Subcommittee
Referred Mar 9, 2019Hearings Mar 12, 2019Markup Mar 26, 2019Reported Mar 26, 2019

Actions 47

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, 2019The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
  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 47 actions

In the Congressional Record 10

Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.

WhereIn the RecordMembersDate
SenateDebate and remarks S3358Richard J. Durbin D-ILJun 12, 2019
SenateDebate and remarks S3302–S3305Edward J. Markey D-MA, Maria Cantwell D-WA, Roger F. Wicker R-MS, Ron Wyden D-ORJun 11, 2019
HouseDebate and remarks H4152Jefferson Van Drew D-NJMay 23, 2019
SenateDebate and remarks S2490Mitch McConnell R-KYApr 29, 2019
ExtensionsDebate and remarks E459David B. McKinley R-WVApr 12, 2019
Show all 10 days

Research

What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.

Committee report

Congressional Budget Office cost estimate

  1. Apr 8, 2019H.R. 1644, Save the Internet Act of 2019As reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on April 5, 2019

Constitutional authority

Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant to the following: Article 1, Section 8, clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution. That provision gives Congress the power ``to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes.''

The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 165, no. 42, March 8, 2019, page H2615.

Printed hearings 1

Hearings whose printed record names this bill, newest first: hearings on it, and wider hearings where it came up.

NumberHearingCommitteeHeld
Serial No. 116-15LEGISLATING TO SAFEGUARD THE FREE AND OPEN INTERNET238 pagesEnergy and Commerce CommitteeMar 12, 2019

CRS reports 8

Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.

Cite it 8

Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.

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 and to establish a congressional budget for fiscal year 2020; and for other purposes.Related billApr 9, 2019
S 682Save the Internet Act of 2019Related billMar 6, 2019

Titles 5

Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.

Official Title as Introduced
To restore the open internet order of the Federal Communications Commission.
Short Title(s) as Introduced
Save the Internet Act of 2019
Short Title(s) as Reported to House
Save the Internet Act of 2019
Short Title(s) as Passed House
Save the Internet Act of 2019
Short Title(s) from PCS (Placed on Senate Calendar) bill text
Save the Internet Act of 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; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.