Provisions of Eshoo's TRUE Fees Act and Modern Television Act Pass the Committee, Along with an Amendment to Protect Privacy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Energy and Commerce Committee passed consumer protection and privacy priorities of Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA). Key consumer protections were adopted from Rep. Eshoo's TRUE Fees Act and Modern Television Act, and her amendment to the Broadband DATA Act passed to protect consumer data privacy.

"I'm pleased the Committee passed key provisions from my TRUE Fees Act and Modern Television Act to protect cable TV consumers. TRUE Fees provides Americans with pricing transparency when they sign up for cable TV, and the Modern Television Act provision protects small cable operators, enabling them to band together in negotiations for programming to lower costs for consumers." Rep. Eshoo said. "I'm also glad the Committee adopted my amendment to secure Americans' privacy in the Broadband DATA Act, which authorizes an FCC contractor to collect millions of government records to improve broadband maps. I look forward to the bills passing the full House."

Background

Key provisions of H.R. 5035 based on the TRUE Fees Act require cable and satellite TV providers to disclose an all-in price to consumers, including fees and taxes, before consumers sign up for a service; send consumers a formal notice of fees and all-in prices within 24 hours of signing up for a service; and grant consumers 24 hours to cancel after receiving formal notice of fees, without penalty.

H.R. 5035, the Television Viewer Protection Act of 2019 reauthorizes a requirement that broadcast, cable, and satellite companies negotiate in "good faith." The bill also includes a provision to extend "good faith" requirements to buying groups of small cable operators, based on Rep. Eshoo and Scalise's H.R. 3994, the Modern Television Act of 2019.

Rep. Eshoo's amendment to H.R. 4229, the Broadband DATA Act, ensures any personal data collected by an FCC contractor authorized to establish a national map of all locations serviceable by broadband is protected. Specifically, Rep. Eshoo's amendment prohibits the FCC contractor from selling Americans' data that the contractor collects to develop broadband maps.

To learn more about the legislation passed through the Energy and Commerce, click HERE.

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