House Plans Votes on Spectrum Innovation Act, Other Bills

The House is expected to vote as soon as Tuesday under suspension of the rules on the Spectrum Innovation Act legislative package (HR-7624), as expected (see 2207180067), the office of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Friday. The chamber will also consider two other telecom bills the Commerce Committee cleared earlier this month: the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences Codification Act (HR-4990) and Safe Connections Act (HR-7132). HR-4990 would provide statutory authority for ITS’ role in managing NTIA’s telecom and spectrum technology programs. HR-7132 and Senate-passed companion S-120 would let domestic abuse survivors separate a mobile phone line from a shared plan involving their abusers without penalties or other requirements and require the FCC to establish rules that ensure calls and texts to domestic abuse hotlines don’t appear on call logs (see 2203180070). The HR-7624 version House Commerce advanced would extend the FCC’s spectrum auction authority through March 31, 2024, and authorize a 3.1-3.45 GHz auction with some sales proceeds allocated to pay for next-generation 911 tech upgrades and additional funding for the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (see 2207130066). Hoyer’s office also confirmed plans (see 2207210063) to vote as soon as Wednesday on the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act (HR-4040).