Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Controlling the Unchecked and Reckless Ballooning of Lifeline Act of 2016” or the “CURB Lifeline Act of 2016”.
Controlling the Unchecked and Reckless Ballooning of Lifeline Act of 2016
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to place an annual cap on support provided through the Lifeline program of the Federal Communications Commission and to provide for certain other requirements relating to such program.
Sec. 2 Certain requirements relating to the Lifeline program
In general— Part II of title II of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 251 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 254 the following:
“254A. Certain requirements relating to the Lifeline program
“(a) Annual cap on support—The total amount of support that may be provided through the Lifeline program of the Commission in any calendar year may not exceed $1,500,000,000.
“(b) Prohibition on subsidy of devices—Support provided through the Lifeline program of the Commission may not be applied to any amount charged to a consumer for the sale, lease, or other provision of a mobile telephone or similar device.
“(c) Prohibition on voice-Only mobile service—Support provided through the Lifeline program of the Commission may not be applied to mobile service if the service offering is limited to voice communications service.”
Effective dates— Section 254A of the Communications Act of 1934, as added by subsection (a), shall apply as follows:
Subsection (a) of such section shall apply beginning with calendar year 2017.
Subsection (b) of such section shall apply beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
Subsection (c) of such section shall apply beginning on the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.