Safe Connections Act of 2021

1/11/2023, 1:47 PM

Safe Connections Act of 2022

This bill establishes requirements concerning access to communication services for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related harms.

At a survivor's request, a mobile service provider must separate from a shared mobile service contract the survivor's line (and the line of any individual in the survivor's care) from the abuser's line unless separation is operationally or technologically infeasible. A survivor requesting this must (1) verify through appropriate documentation that an individual under the contract committed or allegedly committed an act of domestic violence, trafficking, or a related criminal act against the survivor; and (2) assume financial responsibility for services after a line separation.

A provider may not charge fees or impose other requirements on such requests. Additionally, a provider must

  • separate the line within two business days of receiving a request;
  • allow requests to be made remotely (if feasible);
  • meet conditions related to confidentiality of, disposal of, and other matters concerning communications about requests; and
  • make information about the process for requests available through consumer-facing communications (e.g., websites).

The bill (1) provides liability protection for providers' acts or omissions undertaken to comply with such requests, and (2) requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules for these requests.

Additionally, the FCC must (1) expand access to federally subsidized communication services for survivors facing financial hardship, and (2) evaluate this expanded access.

The FCC must also consider rules requiring communication service providers to omit from consumer-facing logs calls and texts to hotlines for domestic violence and similar issues while retaining internal records.

Congress
117

Number
S - 120

Introduced on
2021-01-28

# Amendments
1

Sponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

3/17/2022

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Safe Connections Act of 2022

This bill establishes requirements concerning access to communication services for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related harms.

At a survivor's request, a mobile service provider must separate from a shared mobile service contract the survivor's line (and the line of any individual in the survivor's care) from the abuser's line unless separation is operationally or technologically infeasible. A survivor requesting this must (1) verify through appropriate documentation that an individual under the contract committed or allegedly committed an act of domestic violence, trafficking, or a related criminal act against the survivor; and (2) assume financial responsibility for services after a line separation.

A provider may not charge fees or impose other requirements on such requests. Additionally, a provider must

  • separate the line within two business days of receiving a request;
  • allow requests to be made remotely (if feasible);
  • meet conditions related to confidentiality of, disposal of, and other matters concerning communications about requests; and
  • make information about the process for requests available through consumer-facing communications (e.g., websites).

The bill (1) provides liability protection for providers' acts or omissions undertaken to comply with such requests, and (2) requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules for these requests.

Additionally, the FCC must (1) expand access to federally subsidized communication services for survivors facing financial hardship, and (2) evaluate this expanded access.

The FCC must also consider rules requiring communication service providers to omit from consumer-facing logs calls and texts to hotlines for domestic violence and similar issues while retaining internal records.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedA bill to prevent and respond to the misuse of communications services that facilitates domestic violence and other crimes.

Policy Areas
Science, Technology, Communications

Potential Impact
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Assault and harassment offenses
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Domestic violence and child abuse
Emergency communications systems
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Government information and archives
Human trafficking
Right of privacy
Sex offenses
Telecommunication rates and fees
Telephone and wireless communication

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary7/26/2022

Safe Connections Act of 2022

This bill establishes requirements concerning access to communication services for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related harms.

At a survivor's request, a mobile...


Latest Action3/24/2022
Held at the desk.