THE DAILY WHIP: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016
Mariel Saez or Latoya Veal 202-225-3130
| House Meets At: | First Vote Predicted: | Last Vote Predicted: |
|---|---|---|
10:00 a.m.: Morning Hour | 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. | 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. |
H.R. 4596 – Small Business Broadband Deployment Act (Rep. Walden – Energy and Commerce) (One hour of debate). This bill would extend for five years the temporary exemption granted to small Internet Service Providers (ISPs), defined as those with 250,000 subscribers or less, from the enhanced disclosure requirements resulting from the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 2015 net neutrality rule.
The purpose of the disclosure requirements was to increase transparency of ISPs, which would require them to disclose information regarding promotional rates, pricing, performance characteristics, network management practices, and commercial terms of service, in order for consumers to make informed choices. However, the FCC decided to exempt ISPs with 100,000 subscribers or less because of the burdens it would place on those smaller entities, while the FCC reviewed the extent of the burden. The FCC review is on-going and has been extended until December 15, 2016. H.R. 4596 would extend the exemption until five years after the enacted date and would increase the number of small ISPs exempted, by including businesses with up to 250,000 subscribers. This bill would also require the FCC to submit a report to Congress within 180 days detailing whether the exemption should be made permanent and whether the definition of small ISPs is appropriate.
The Rule, which was adopted yesterday, makes in order 1 amendment, debatable for 10 minutes, equally divided between the offeror and an opponent. The amendment is:
Veasey Amendment. Requires the FCC to also answer whether a permanent exemption would increase access to services offered by small internet service providers.
Bill Text for H.R. 4596:
PDF Version
Background for H.R. 4596:
House Report #1 (HTML Version)
House Report #2 (HTML Version)
House Report #1 (PDF Version)
House Report #2 (PDF Version)
Postponed Suspensions (2 bills)
- H.R. 4416 – To extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project (Rep. McKinley – Energy and Commerce)
- H.R. 4434 – To extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project (Rep. Gibson – Energy and Commerce)
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
The GOP Leadership has announced the following schedule for Thursday, March 17: The House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. The House is expected to consider H.Res. 639 –Authorizing the Speaker to appear as amicus curiae on behalf of the House of Representatives in the matter of United States, et al. v. Texas, et al. (Rep. Ryan (WI) – Rules) (Subject to a Rule).
| The Daily Quote |
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“The House Republican budget is in trouble. [House] Speaker Paul Ryan’s [R-WI] Republican leadership team knows it. Most members of the House are acutely aware of it. And most of them even realize how bad it will look. The same party that dreamed up ‘No Budget, No Pay’ to shame Democrats for skipping their fiscal blueprint might now take a pass on its own… And the stakes are quite high. Failing to pass a budget wouldn’t be bad just for Ryan’s gambit as the new speaker to get the House functioning again. It would also stymie the appropriations process and likely force the House to pass yet another stopgap spending bill.” - Politico, 3/15/2016 |