[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5985 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5985
To direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish an
interagency taskforce on unlawful robocalls.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 27, 2020
Mr. Budd (for himself, Mr. Bishop of North Carolina, and Mr. Clay)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish an
interagency taskforce on unlawful robocalls.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Foreign Robocall Elimination Act''.
SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY TASKFORCE ON UNLAWFUL ROBOCALLS.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission, in
consultation with the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorney
General, shall establish an interagency taskforce on unlawful
robocalls.
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The taskforce shall be composed of the
following members:
(A) A representative of each Federal agency that
the Federal Communications Commission, in consultation
with the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorney
General, considers appropriate, to be appointed by the
head of such agency.
(B) Three representatives of private-sector
entities, to be appointed as described in paragraph
(2)--
(i) one of whom is a representative of a
provider of telephone service; and
(ii) two of whom are representatives of
other private-sector entities with expertise in
combating unlawful robocalls and who may be
technologists and technology experts.
(2) Appointment of representatives of private-sector
entities.--The members of the taskforce described in paragraph
(1)(B) shall be jointly appointed by the Chairman of the
Federal Communications Commission, the Chairman of the Federal
Trade Commission, and the Attorney General. If the Chairman of
the Federal Communications Commission, the Chairman of the
Federal Trade Commission, and the Attorney General cannot reach
agreement regarding such an appointment, as determined by the
Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, the Chairman
of the Federal Communications Commission shall make such
appointment.
(c) Study.--
(1) In general.--The taskforce shall conduct a study on
unlawful robocalls, including the most effective ways to combat
unlawful robocalls made into the United States from outside the
United States.
(2) Matters to be studied.--In conducting the study
required by paragraph (1), the taskforce shall--
(A) compare the number of unlawful robocalls made
within the United States and the number of unlawful
robocalls made into the United States from outside the
United States;
(B) examine methods for encouraging adoption of
caller authentication technology in foreign countries;
(C) examine and provide information on options for
countries to share caller authentication information
for international calls;
(D) examine how technical solutions such as caller
authentication technology would improve coordination
between the United States and foreign countries in
combating unlawful robocalls;
(E) examine ways to incentivize foreign countries
to cooperate with United States law enforcement efforts
to combat unlawful robocalls;
(F) examine ways to incentivize providers of
telephone service to take measures to combat unlawful
robocalls placed across international borders; and
(G) examine whether or not additional resources are
needed by any Federal agency that combats unlawful
robocalls or any other organization that combats
unlawful robocalls, in order to more effectively combat
unlawful robocalls made into the United States from
outside the United States.
(3) Collaboration with private sector.--In conducting the
study required by paragraph (1), the taskforce shall
collaborate with technologists and private-sector innovators,
including through the members of the taskforce appointed under
subsection (b)(2), to find solutions for combating unlawful
robocalls.
(d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 10 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the taskforce shall submit to Congress a
report on the findings of the study required by subsection (c)(1).
(e) Termination.--The taskforce shall terminate on the date that is
90 days after the taskforce submits the report required by subsection
(d).
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Federal agency.--The term ``Federal agency'' has the
meaning given the term ``agency'' in section 551 of title 5,
United States Code.
(2) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of the
United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth,
territory, or possession of the United States, and each
federally recognized Indian Tribe.
(3) Taskforce.--The term ``taskforce'' means the taskforce
on unlawful robocalls established under subsection (a).
(4) Unlawful robocall.--The term ``unlawful robocall''
means a telephone call made in violation of--
(A) section 227(b) of the Communications Act of
1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(b)); or
(B) a similar law of a State or a foreign country
that prohibits calls made using an automatic telephone
dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice.
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