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H.R. 4596 114th Congress House

Small Business Broadband Deployment Act

Official title: To ensure that small business providers of broadband Internet access service can devote resources to broadband deployment rather than compliance with cumbersome regulatory requirements.

Introduced: February 24, 2016 See on congress.gov
Science, Technology, Communications Administrative law and regulatory proceduresConsumer affairsFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Internet and video services
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Internet, web applications, social mediaSmall businessTelecommunication rates and fees
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) 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 21 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 17, 2016
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Mar 16, 2016
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 16, 2016
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 411 - 0 (Roll no. 124).
Mar 16, 2016
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1401-1402)
Mar 16, 2016
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of passage on H.R. 4596 which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
Mar 16, 2016
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 4596 the Chair put the question on passage and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Walden demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of passage of the bill until a time to be announced.
Mar 16, 2016
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H1401)
Mar 16, 2016
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Veasey amendment.
Mar 16, 2016
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 4596.
Mar 16, 2016
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4596 and H.R. 3797.
Mar 16, 2016
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 640. (consideration: CR H1396-1402; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1396-1397)
Mar 14, 2016
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 640 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4596 and H.R. 3797.
Mar 10, 2016
Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Energy and Commerce, H. Rept. 114-444, Part II.
Mar 10, 2016
FILING AUTHORITY - Mr. Whitfield asked unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Commerce be authorized to file a supplemental report on the bill H.R. 4596. Agreed to without objection.
Mar 7, 2016
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 339.
Mar 7, 2016
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 114-444.
Feb 25, 2016
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Feb 25, 2016
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Feb 24, 2016
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Feb 24, 2016
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Feb 24, 2016
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Mar 16, 2016 House · vote #124 On Passage Passed 411–0 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 2

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 970 Veasey, Marc A. An amendment printed in Part A of House Report 114-453 to require the FCC to also answer whether a permanent … Withdrawn Mar 16, 2016
HAMDT 969 – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 640 the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Comm… No recorded outcome –
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 Latest action March 17, 2016

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on March 7, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Small Business Broadband Deployment Act

(Sec. 2) This bill exempts for five years any small business broadband Internet access service provider with no more than 250,000 subscribers from the enhancements to the transparency rule of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under which any person engaged in the provision of broadband Internet access service must disclose publicly accurate information regarding the network management practices, performance, and commercial terms of its broadband Internet access services sufficient for:

  • consumers to make informed choices regarding their use; and
  • content, application, service, and device providers to develop, market, and maintain Internet offerings.

The FCC shall report to specified congressional committees, within 180 days after enactment of this Act, its recommendations (together with supporting data) on whether:

  • this exception should be made permanent, and
  • the definition of "small business" for these purposes should be modified.
 Related & companion bills 3
  • HRES 640 Procedurally related Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4596) to ensure that small business providers of broadband Internet acces…
  • S 2283 Small Business Broadband Deployment Act of 2016
  • S 253 Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act of 2015
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4596: Small Business Broadband Deployment Act. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4596/
MLA
"H.R. 4596: Small Business Broadband Deployment Act." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4596/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4596, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4596/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4596: Small Business Broadband Deployment Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4596/)
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