House Commerce Committee

House Passes SMART IoT Act

The House has passed, by a voice vote,  the SMART (State of Modern Application, Research, and Trends) IoT (Internet of Things) Act (H.R. 6032). Authored by Consumer Digital Commerce Subcommittee Chairman Bob Latta (R-OH) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), the SMART IoT Act would direct the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study on the state of the internet-connected devices industry. The report is to be delivered to Congress within one year. 

The legislation instructs the Sec of Commerce to 

(1) develop and conduct a survey of the internet-connected devices industry including:

Rep Pallone on FCC IG Report on Pai’s Ties to Sinclair

Chairman Pai’s relationship with Sinclair needed to be investigated in light of Sinclair’s ties to the President and the Chairman’s abysmal responses to Congressional Democrats’ numerous oversight letters.  It should not take an IG investigation to get answers to basic questions regarding independence and integrity. The IG report provides the first detailed responses to Congress’ questions.

Lawmakers split over how to expand rural broadband

Lawmakers sparred over ways to bring more investment to rural broadband services. Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said government needs to complement private investment not compete against it.

Rep Pallone to Introduce Bill to Ensure Immigrant Parents Can Contact Their Separated Children Free of Charge

House Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) announced the Compassionate Calling and Immigrant Family Reunification Act of 2018 to put an end to the abusive practice of charging detained immigrant parents extortionary rates to use the phone to either contact their children that have been separated from them and placed in detention facilities or to contact federal agencies to learn where their children are being held.

SMART IoT Act Heads to Commerce Committee for Consideration

The Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection, chaired by Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH), advanced by voice vote H.R. 6032, the SMART IoT Act, to the full committee for consideration. The SMART IoT Act, authored by Subcommittee Chairman Latta and Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), will direct the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study on the state of the internet-connected devices industry.

House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Advances Bills

The House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, chaired by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), advanced bills to the full committee that improve the nation’s broadband infrastructure and strengthen public safety communications.

Reps Walden and Pallone on Facebook’s Data-Sharing Partnerships with Chinese Companies

At our hearing with CEO Mark Zuckerberg, bipartisan members of the committee asked direct questions about Facebook sharing personal data with third-parties. Clearly, the company’s partnerships with Chinese technology companies and others should have been disclosed before Congress and the American people. The spirit of our questions about third-party access to user data should not have required technical knowledge of the legal agreements Facebook has with device manufacturers to get clear answers for the public.

House Commerce Committee Leadership Wants FCC Oversight Hearing

House Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr.

Representatives Question FCC's Pai on Faulty Broadband Data

House Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr.

Television Broadcasters are Big Winners in FCC Reauthorization Approved by House Commerce Committee

The House Commerce Committee approved a bill that reauthorizes the Federal Communications Commission -- and includes a number of other bills, including an incentive auction fund increase.

House Commerce Committee Republicans Lay Out Principles for Broadband Infrastructure

The House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, chaired by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), introduced a series of resolutions laying out principles for broadband infrastructure:

 

Rep Matsui Leads 23 Commerce Committee Members in Calling for FCC to Reconsider Proposed Changes to Lifeline Program

Rep Doris Matsui (D-CA), along with 22 members of the House Commerce Committee, sent a letter to Chairman Ajit Pai urging the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider proposed changes to the Lifeline program. “Now more than ever, the wake of this year’s natural disasters has shown the critical importance that a mobile connection – a literal lifeline – can play in getting Americans back on their feet. We are concerned that proposed changes to the Lifeline program could potentially strand millions of struggling families with no way to connect.