SB 108-20: Tinkering With Telecommunications Act (Passed)

[WD]

TINKERING WITH TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT

To make the telecommunications industry work better for consumers

SECTION I: NAME
a. This law shall be known as the Tinkering with Telecommunications Act

SECTION II: SPECTRUM AVAILABILITY
a. The National Telecommunication and Information Agency (NTIA) and the Federal Communications Commission shall study and jointly publish a report by January 1, 2023 identifying all excess or underutilized federal electromagnetic spectrum frequencies unrelated to emergency frequencies. Such study shall include an analysis of excess “white space” between existing frequencies. On April 1, 2023, the NTIA shall conduct public auctions for ten (10) year rights to those spectrum frequencies identified in the report.
b. The sales terms of the auction shall include a provision that the spectrum leaseholder must utilize or sell their spectrum frequency within the first eighteen (18) months of acquisition or else the rights to the spectrum frequency revert back to federal management. Upon such reversion, a new auction for the frequency shall be held within six (6) months upon the same terms as the first.
c. Bidders at an auction conducted in accordance with this act shall not be subject to any aggregation limits on their potential purchases.
d. Any auctioned spectrum frequencies in the 14.0-14.5-GHz Band shall be reserved for bidders who certify that such frequency shall be used in the provision of internet services to aircraft.
e. The 70CM Band shall be reserved for public use by amateur radio licensees.
f. Nothing in federal law shall be interpreted as prohibiting persons from using satellites in the dissemination of signals along appropriately leased frequencies, provided such signals do not interfere with other frequencies to which that person does not have an agreement to interfere with
g. The FCC shall be prohibited from blocking or interfering with secondary sales of spectrum frequencies purchased at auction.
h. The regulation granting automatic roaming rights to cell phone carriers shall be amended to exclude cell phone carriers who already own spectrum rights in the specific market area.
i. The regulation purporting to remove local authority for cell tower siting is hereby eliminated. FCC's Small Cell Siting Declaratory Ruling "Accelerating Broadband deployment" WT Docket No. 17-79 and 17-84 (2018) is hereby rescinded.
j. The FCC shall classify Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) as broadband for the purposes of rulemaking.

SECTION III: TELEVISION CHANNELS
a. Cable and Satellite companies that have purchased the right to air a sporting event across their network shall not be required to “black out” or refuse to air that sporting event in specific geographic markets.
b. Cable providers may continued to carry broadcast stations on an interim basis during disputes over retransmission consent fees.
c. Satellite providers shall be prohibited from refusing to offer a la carte packages of available content channels to subscribers provider the subscriber selects a minimum of ten (10) channels.
d. Media companies shall be prohibited from requiring cable and satellite providers to carry specific cable channels in order to obtain broadcast stations.

SECTION IV: FCC REFORM
a. All of the separate reports that the FCC is required to make to Congress each year shall be consolidated into one large report due on the harmonized date of the first workday of the new year.
b. Beginning in FY 2023 the following programs shall be eliminated:
   1. Broadband Opportunities Program
   2. Lifeline Program
   3. Public Safety Interoperable System Grant Program
   4. Public Telecommunications Facilities Program
   5. Technology Opportunities Program
c. On January 1, 2023 The NTIA and all of its duties shall be consolidated into the FCC.
d. E-Rate Applicants shall be permitted to file physical copies of their application until January 1, 2023.

SECTION V: TIME
a. Unless otherwise provided herein, this act shall take effect immediately.

Sponsor: Muad’dib

The gentleman from Mississippi is recognized

[Mr. Reactionary]

Nice bill from my colleague.

It looks like this bill opens up a lot more EM Spectrum for use in providing cell/internet service while perserving some for amateur radio. It also looks like it restores cell tower siting decisions to the locality where the tower is being built.

It looks like it reforms TV too, by preventing sports blackouts and restrictive contracts relating to retransmission fees and channel favoritism while also requiring al a carte tv packages so you dont have to buy 70 channels you dont want to get ESPN.

It even appears to consolidate duplicitous reports and eliminate duplicitous programs.

What an excellent bill from my colleague to expand internet, protect hobbyists, local governments, and consumers from telecom monopolies, and eliminate waste all while increasing federal revenues through the spectrum auctions. Great job, Muad'dib.

[beesley]

Great bill which has my full support.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Technology should serve the people not the other way around.

This bill contains numerous benefits. I will outline some of these briefly.

As a known sports fan I am happy to say that among the benefits are that big sporting events will become more widely available for us to enjoy.

With the safeguards from the protecting our privacy act, plus this bill's opening up of more space for community use of the airwaves and empowering local governments about local infrastructure placements. We continue to ensure that technology serves we the people not displacing and replacing the people.

This bill also seeks to set about streamlining government oversight and eliminating redtape.

I commend to the Senate this bill.

[Joseph Cao]

Extremely good bill. Open up the Internet and free those poor FCC employees of burdensome paperwork!

[Pedocon Theory is not a theory]

AMENDMENT

TINKERING WITH TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT

To make the telecommunications industry work better for consumers

SECTION I: NAME
a. This law shall be known as the Tinkering with Telecommunications Act

SECTION II: SPECTRUM AVAILABILITY
a. The National Telecommunication and Information Agency (NTIA) and the Federal Communications Commission shall study and jointly publish a report by January 1, 2023 identifying all excess or underutilized federal electromagnetic spectrum frequencies unrelated to emergency frequencies. Such study shall include an analysis of excess “white space” between existing frequencies. On April 1, 2023, the NTIA shall conduct public auctions for ten (10) year rights to those spectrum frequencies identified in the report.
b. The sales terms of the auction shall include a provision that the spectrum leaseholder must utilize or sell their spectrum frequency within the first eighteen (18) months of acquisition or else the rights to the spectrum frequency revert back to federal management. Upon such reversion, a new auction for the frequency shall be held within six (6) months upon the same terms as the first.
c. Bidders at an auction conducted in accordance with this act shall not be subject to any aggregation limits on their potential purchases.
d. Any auctioned spectrum frequencies in the 14.0-14.5-GHz Band shall be reserved for bidders who certify that such frequency shall be used in the provision of internet services to aircraft.
e. The 70CM Band shall be reserved for public use by amateur radio licensees.
f. Nothing in federal law shall be interpreted as prohibiting persons from using satellites in the dissemination of signals along appropriately leased frequencies, provided such signals do not interfere with other frequencies to which that person does not have an agreement to interfere with
g. The FCC shall be prohibited from blocking or interfering with secondary sales of spectrum frequencies purchased at auction.
h. f. The regulation granting automatic roaming rights to cell phone carriers shall be amended to exclude cell phone carriers who already own spectrum rights in the specific market area.
i. g. The regulation purporting to remove local authority for cell tower siting is hereby eliminated. FCC's Small Cell Siting Declaratory Ruling "Accelerating Broadband deployment" WT Docket No. 17-79 and 17-84 (2018) is hereby rescinded.
j. The FCC shall classify Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) as broadband for the purposes of rulemaking.

SECTION III: TELEVISION CHANNELS
a. Cable and Satellite companies that have purchased the right to air a sporting event across their network shall not be required to may not “black out” or refuse to air that sporting event in specific geographic markets.
b. Cable providers may continued to carry broadcast stations on an interim basis during disputes over retransmission consent fees.
c. Satellite and cable providers shall be prohibited from refusing to offer a la carte packages of available content channels to subscribers provider provided the subscriber selects a minimum of ten (10) two (2) channels.
d. Media companies shall be prohibited from requiring cable and satellite providers to carry specific cable channels in order to obtain broadcast stations.
e. All fees and/or surcharges charged by television providers in addition to the base subscription fee (including but not limited to service fees, applicable federal, state, and local taxes, equipment rental fees, supplementary fees, Regional Sports fees, DVR charges, Broadcast TV fees, capital fees, franchise fees, and FCC administration fees) shall be disclosed at the time of subscription, and must be included in any price advertised to consumers.
f. Any additional fees, increases in existing fees, and increases in subscription costs introduced by television providers must be disclosed to any affected subscribers with twenty-four (24) months' advance notice, and providers must deliver said notice through subscribers' preferred communication method at each of the following intervals:

• twenty-four (24) months prior to aforementioned changes;
• twelve (12) months prior to aforementioned changes;
• six (6) months prior to aforementioned changes;
• three (3) months prior to aforementioned changes, and;
• one (1) month prior to aforementioned changes;

g. The advertisement of promotional subscription rates for internet and television services shall be prohibited unless said promotional rates are effective indefinitely throughout the entire duration of a subscriber's relationship with the provider.
h. All internet and television providers must provide subscribers with the ability to, at any time, cancel, suspend with no fee, or modify their subscription through an online portal.
i. Internet and television providers shall be prohibited from charging early contract termination or cancellation fees exceeding $39.



SECTION IV: FCC REFORM
a. All of the separate reports that the FCC is required to make to Congress each year shall be consolidated into one large report due on the harmonized date of the first workday of the new year.
b. Beginning in FY 2023 the following programs shall be eliminated:
   1. Broadband Opportunities Program
   2. Lifeline Program
   3. Public Safety Interoperable System Grant Program
   4. Public Telecommunications Facilities Program
   5. Technology Opportunities Program
c. On January 1, 2023 The NTIA and all of its duties shall be consolidated into the FCC.
d.
a. E-Rate Applicants shall be permitted to file physical copies of their application until January 1, 2023.

SECTION V: TIME
a. Unless otherwise provided herein, this act shall take effect immediately.

I see no real justification here for folding the NTIA into the FCC, nor do I see a reason for elimininating programs which seek to expand broadband access. Not to mention that putting all the reports in a single document seems to only serve to make it HARDER to access them.

Additionally, II.f and g seem like needlessly hasty swooping changes likely to tilt the scales even further in favor of telecomms megacorporations.

Also added further consumer protections to ensure that everyone has the ability to watch local sports games, and provide consumers with more choice in their TV subscriptions.

And DSL is not broadband, stop lowering the bar and give people the good, high-quality modern internet service they deserve.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Not friendly to the amendments as a whole package.

[Pedocon Theory is not a theory]

Not friendly to the amendments as a whole package.

Witness the Federalist contempt for the common man! What kind of monster opposes getting rid of sports blackouts and hidden fees? Must be a telecomms shill.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Not friendly to the amendments as a whole package.

Witness the Federalist contempt for the common man! What kind of monster opposes getting rid of sports blackouts and hidden fees? Must be a telecomms shill.

What planet do you live on?

[Pedocon Theory is not a theory]

Not friendly to the amendments as a whole package.

Witness the Federalist contempt for the common man! What kind of monster opposes getting rid of sports blackouts and hidden fees? Must be a telecomms shill.

What planet do you live on?

What planet do you live on? What do you even find objectionable here?

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Not friendly to the amendments as a whole package.

Witness the Federalist contempt for the common man! What kind of monster opposes getting rid of sports blackouts and hidden fees? Must be a telecomms shill.

What planet do you live on?

What planet do you live on? What do you even find objectionable here?

You must live on redtape planet

[Pedocon Theory is not a theory]

Not friendly to the amendments as a whole package.

Witness the Federalist contempt for the common man! What kind of monster opposes getting rid of sports blackouts and hidden fees? Must be a telecomms shill.

What planet do you live on?

What planet do you live on? What do you even find objectionable here?

You must live on redtape planet

And you live on the island that got saddled with 25 Mbit/s intercrap that took 11 years to finish, no wonder you think DSL is broadband.

[WD]

A vote is now open on the amendment. Please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Nay

[Saint Milei]

Nay

[West_Midlander]

Abstain

[S019]

AYE, this increases transparency for the consumer

[beesley]

Nay

[Dr. MB]

Nay, I don't see the need for striking 2f and 2g.

[Kuumo]

Nay

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Nay

[Continential]

Nay

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Abstain

[Joseph Cao]

Nay.

Out of interest what does the sponsor think of adopting just the changes to section III?

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Nay.

Out of interest what does the sponsor think of adopting just the changes to section III?

I am not opposed to the spirit of the changes to section III. I think most if not all of those with some tweeks would be fine.

As I said the proposed amendment package as a whole I could not get behind.