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H.R. 5834 114th Congress House

Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2016

Official title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit mobile service providers from providing service on smart phones that have been reported stolen, to require … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit mobile service providers from providing service on smart phones that have been reported stolen, to require smart phones to be equipped with anti-theft functionality and mobile device identification numbers, and to prohibit the alteration or removal of mobile device identification numbers of smart phones, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 14, 2016 See on congress.gov
Science, Technology, Communications Business recordsComputer security and identity theftComputers and information technologyCrimes against propertyTelephone 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 14, 2016
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jul 14, 2016
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 14, 2016

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2016

This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit commercial mobile or data service providers from providing service on smart phones that: (1) have been reported to such provider as stolen by an authorized user, or (2) are listed as stolen on the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR). When a smart phone is reported stolen to a service provider, the provider must notify the CEIR with information necessary to identify the phone.

Smart phones must be equipped with: (1) preloaded antitheft functionality at no additional cost to purchasers, or be capable of downloading such functionality at no cost; and (2) a mobile device identification number.

A criminal penalty is established for anyone who violates prohibitions against: (1) removing, obliterating, tampering with, or altering a smart phone's mobile device identification number; (2) using, producing, trafficking in, having control or custody of, or possessing hardware or software, knowing it has been configured to engage in such identification number removal or alteration violations; or (3) selling a smart phone for which the identification number is listed as stolen on the CEIR.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Jul 14, 2016
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5834: Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2016. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5834/
MLA
"H.R. 5834: Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2016." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5834/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5834, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5834/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5834: Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2016](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5834/)
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