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HR 6530 112th Congress House

Global Free Internet Act of 2012

Official title: To combat trade barriers that threaten the maintenance of an open Internet, that mandate unique technology standards as a condition of market access and relate… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To combat trade barriers that threaten the maintenance of an open Internet, that mandate unique technology standards as a condition of market access and related measures, and to promote online free expression and the free flow of information.

Introduced: September 21, 2012 Introduced by: Lofgren, Zoe Democratic · California See on congress.gov
Foreign Trade and International Finance Advisory bodiesCompetition and antitrustCongressional oversightExecutive agency funding and structure
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Free trade and trade barriersGovernment studies and investigationsInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaTrade agreements and negotiationsTrade restrictions
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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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 3, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet.
Sep 26, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Sep 21, 2012
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, the Judiciary, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sep 21, 2012
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 3, 2012

Referred to the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Global Free Internet Act of 2012 - Establishes a Task Force on the Global Internet to be hosted by the Department of Commerce.

Requires the Task Force to develop and implement strategies in response to foreign and domestic government policies that: (1) unjustifiably or unreasonably burden or restrict international trade in Internet-related goods, services, and content; (2) mandate or otherwise preference Internet-related technology standards and related measures; (3) impede the free flow of information on the Internet; or (4) otherwise threaten the open, global nature of the Internet, the interests of Internet users, and the United States in Internet-related international trade and discourse.

Directs the Task Force to coordinate the activity of federal agencies to implement such strategies and to consult and share timely information with civil liberty and Internet policy groups.

Requires the Task Force to transmit to the President and Congress specified annual reports and action plans and to hold public hearings and solicit public comment through the Federal Register and the Task Force website.

Instructs the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to initiate an investigation of any acts, policies, or practices of a foreign government or international body that are identified in such reports and plans as priority concerns in accordance with the Trade Act of 1974.

Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Attorney General (DOJ) to investigate whether each act, policy, or practice identified in such a report or plan (or any related action by a nongovernmental entity) violates U.S. antitrust laws.

Requires the Task Force to report to Congress and the President on the sufficiency of existing multilateral and bilateral trade agreements in advancing specified objectives that support the goal of a single open, global Internet.

Instructs the Task Force to organize training of foreign and domestic government officials and national standard-setting and conformity assessment bodies, including coordination with nongovernmental international and domestic standards bodies.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 6530: Global Free Internet Act of 2012. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-6530/
MLA
"H.R. 6530: Global Free Internet Act of 2012." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-6530/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 6530, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-6530/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 6530: Global Free Internet Act of 2012](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-6530/)
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