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HR 4886 114th Congress House

Closing the Pre-Paid Mobile Device Security Gap Act of 2016

Official title: To require purchasers of pre-paid mobile devices or SIM cards to provide identification, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 23, 2016 See on congress.gov
Commerce Business recordsFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment information and archivesRetail and wholesale tradesTelephone and wireless communication
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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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 28, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Mar 25, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Mar 23, 2016
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
Mar 23, 2016
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 28, 2016

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Closing the Pre-Paid Mobile Device Security Gap Act of 2016

This bill requires authorized resellers of pre-paid mobile devices or SIM cards to require purchasers to provide their name, home address, and date of birth.

For in-person sales, an authorized reseller must require purchasers to display for verification: (1) a government-issued photographic identification card or a document acceptable under the Immigration and Nationality Act for employment authorization or establishing identity; and (2) any two of a Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement from the Internal Revenue Service, a Form 1099 Social Security Benefit Statement or a Form 1099 from another federal agency, or a document containing personal identifying information that the Department of Justice (DOJ) finds to be acceptable. For all other sales, an authorized reseller must require purchasers to submit their: (1) credit or debit card account information, (2) Social Security number, (3) driver's license number, and (4) any personal identifying information that DOJ finds to be necessary.

Authorized resellers must make a record of their sales that includes: (1) the information obtained from purchasers to verify their identity; (2) the date of sale; (3) the manufacturer and the wireless carrier of the device or SIM card; (4) any assigned telephone number or other identifier of the subscriber or account; and (5) if applicable, the international mobile equipment identifier number, electronic serial number, mobile equipment identifier, international mobile subscriber identifier, and machine address code. Within 30 days after a sale, an authorized reseller must transmit such record to the wireless carrier for the device or SIM card.

Purchasers are subject to criminal penalties for providing false or misleading identifying information or documents. A civil penalty is established for authorized resellers or wireless carriers who fail to comply with this Act.

The bill also prohibits and establishes criminal penalties for the sale of a pre-paid mobile device or SIM card by a person who is not an authorized reseller.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4886: Closing the Pre-Paid Mobile Device Security Gap Act of 2016. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4886/
MLA
"H.R. 4886: Closing the Pre-Paid Mobile Device Security Gap Act of 2016." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4886/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4886, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4886/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4886: Closing the Pre-Paid Mobile Device Security Gap Act of 2016](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4886/)
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