US Congress Senate Bill 517 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Completed Legislative Action
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-4)
Status: Passed on August 1 2014 - 100% progression
Action: 2014-08-01 - Became Public Law No: 113-144.
Text: Latest bill text (Enrolled) [PDF]

Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act - Repeals a Library of Congress (LOC) rulemaking determination, made upon the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, regarding the circumvention of technological measures controlling access to copyrighted software on wireless telephone handsets (mobile telephones) for the purpose of connecting to different wireless telecommunications networks (a practice commonly referred to as "unlocking" such devices). Reestablishes, as an exemption to provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) prohibiting such circumvention, a previous LOC rule permitting the use of computer programs, in the form of firmware or software, that enable used wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telecommunications network, when circumvention is initiated by the owner of the copy of such computer program solely to connect to such a network and access to the network is authorized by the network operator, thus permitting unlocked phones. Directs the Librarian of Congress, upon the recommendation of the Register, to determine whether to extend such exemption to include any other category of wireless devices in addition to wireless telephone handsets (e.g., tablets and other mobile broadband-enabled devices). Allows such circumvention (unlocking) to be initiated by the owner of such a device, by another person at the direction of the owner, or by a provider of a commercial mobile radio service or a commercial mobile data service at the direction of such owner or other person, solely in order to enable such owner or a family member of such owner to connect to a wireless telecommunications network, when such connection is authorized by the operator of such network. Prohibits this Act from being construed to alter any party's rights under existing law.

Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act

Sen. Patrick Leahy [D-VT]	Sen. Michael Bennet [D-CO]	Sen. Richard Blumenthal [D-CT]	Sen. Christopher Coons [D-DE]
Sen. Al Franken [D-MN]	Sen. Chuck Grassley [R-IA]	Sen. Orrin Hatch [R-UT]	Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D-MN]
Sen. Mike Lee [R-UT]	Sen. John Thune [R-SD]	Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D-RI]

Date	Chamber	Action
2014-08-01	House	Became Public Law No: 113-144.
2014-08-01	House	Signed by President.
2014-07-28	House	Presented to President.
2014-07-25	House	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2014-07-25	House	On passage Passed by voice vote. (text: CR H6835-6836)
2014-07-25	House	Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H6835-6836)
2014-07-25	House	Mr. Chaffetz asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
2014-07-17	House	By Senator Leahy from Committee on the Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 113-212.
2014-07-16	House	Held at the desk.
2014-07-16	House	Received in the House.
2014-07-16	Senate	Message on Senate action sent to the House.
2014-07-15	Senate	Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4510-4511; text as passed Senate: CR S4510-4511)
2014-07-10	Senate	Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 461.
2014-07-10	Senate	Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
2014-07-10	Senate	Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
2013-03-11	Senate	Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1595)
2013-03-11	Senate	Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1594-1595)

HB1123 (Same As) 2014-02-26 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/517/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s517/BILLS-113s517is.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s517/BILLS-113s517rs.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s517/BILLS-113s517es.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s517/BILLS-113s517enr.pdf