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HR 4247 112th Congress House Science, Technology, Communications Crimes against property Criminal justice information and records Government information and archives Telephone and wireless communication

Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2012

Introduced: March 22, 2012 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) 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
Apr 23, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Mar 22, 2012
Introduced in House
Mar 22, 2012
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2012 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit a provider of commercial mobile or commercial mobile data service from providing service on a mobile electronic device reported to such provider as stolen by: (1) the person who holds the service account, if such person submits a copy of a report made to a law enforcement agency regarding the theft; or (2) another provider of commercial mobile or commercial mobile data service required by this Act to inform all other providers of a device reported stolen and of any information necessary for identification of the device.

Defines "mobile electronic device" as a personal electronic device on which commercial mobile or commercial mobile data service is provided, excluding devices: (1) for which the consumer purchases service by paying in advance for a specified amount of calling or data usage, or (2) with respect to which the consumer does not have a direct relationship with the provider.

Directs providers to make available to account holders the capability of deleting, from a remote location, all information that was placed on such a device after its manufacture.

Prohibits a person from manufacturing in or importing into the United States for sale or resale to the public a mobile electronic device unless it is: (1) equipped with a unique identifier that allows a provider to identify such device, and (2) configured to enable a provider to make available the remote deletion capability required by this Act.

What's happening now April 23, 2012

Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 3
D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Jul 10, 2012
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Mar 22, 2012
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Mar 22, 2012
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4247: Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2012. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-4247/
MLA
"H.R. 4247: Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2012." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-4247/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4247, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-4247/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4247: Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2012](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-4247/)
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