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S 1137 105th Congress Senate

Slamming Protection Act

Official title: A bill to amend section 258 of the Communications Act of 1934 to establish additional protections against the unauthorized change of subscribers from one telecommunications carrier to another.

Introduced: July 31, 1997 Introduced by: Durbin, Richard J. Democratic · Illinois See on congress.gov
Science, Technology, Communications Class actions (Civil procedure)CommerceCrime and Law EnforcementDamages
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Federal Communications CommissionFines (Penalties)Government Operations and PoliticsIndependent regulatory commissionsInjunctionsLawParties to actionsPunitive damagesRestrictive trade practicesSentences (Criminal procedure)Telecommunication industryTelephoneTelephone rates
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 31, 1997
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Jul 31, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8602-8603)
Jul 31, 1997
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action July 31, 1997

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Slamming Protection Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prescribe criminal penalties for the willful and unlawful execution of changes in a subscriber's selection of a telephone exchange or toll service provider.

Authorizes affected subscribers to bring actions for an order to revoke the change and for the award of damages. Permits States to bring civil actions on behalf of residents to enjoin unlawful change practices and to recover damages equal to the actual monetary loss suffered by such residents. Authorizes the court to increase damage awards by up to three times the maximum allowable award for willful and knowing violations.

Grants U.S. district courts exclusive jurisdiction over such civil actions. Provides for declaratory and injunctive relief with respect to such actions. Grants the Federal Communications Commission the right to intervene in actions.

Limits total damages awarded in class actions brought under this Act to three times the total actual damages suffered by members of the class.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1137: Slamming Protection Act. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-1137/
MLA
"S. 1137: Slamming Protection Act." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-1137/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1137, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-1137/.
Markdown link
[S. 1137: Slamming Protection Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-1137/)
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