- H.R. 251 — Truth in Caller ID Act of 2007 (Engel, D-NY)
Order of Business: H.R. 251 is scheduled for consideration on Tuesday, June 12, 2006, under a motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Summary: H.R. 251 would amend the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227) to prohibit any person in the U.S., in connection with any telecommunication service or VOIP (voice over Internet protocol) service, to cause any caller identification service to “transmit misleading or inaccurate caller identification information, with the intent to defraud or case harm.”
The bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to promulgate regulations to carry out this Act within six months of enactment.
Committee Action: H.R. 251 was introduced on January 5, 2007, and referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce. On February 2, 2007, the bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, which took no official action.
Cost to Taxpayers: CBO estimates that enacting and enforcing H.R 251 would cost $5 million over the 2008 – 2012 period. Civil fines levied under the bill would also increase revenue by an insignificant amount.
Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal Government?: Yes. The bill creates a new federal law.
Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or Private-Sector Mandates?: No.
Constitutional Authority: A committee report citing constitutional authority is not available. However, House Rule XIII, Section 3(d)(1), requires that all committee reports contain “a statement citing the specific powers granted to Congress in the Constitution to enact the law proposed by the bill or joint resolution” [emphasis added].
RSC Staff Contact: Andy Koenig; andy.koenig@mail.house.gov; 202-226-9717.