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HR 655 114th Congress House

FCC "ABCs" Act of 2015

Official title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reform the Federal Communications Commission by requiring an analysis of benefits and costs during the rule making p… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reform the Federal Communications Commission by requiring an analysis of benefits and costs during the rule making process and creating certain presumptions regarding regulatory forbearance and biennial regulatory review determinations.

Introduced: February 2, 2015 Introduced by: Latta, Robert E. Republican · Ohio See on congress.gov
Science, Technology, Communications Administrative law and regulatory proceduresFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Government studies and investigations
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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 6, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Feb 2, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Feb 2, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 6, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

FCC "ABCs" Act of 2015

Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in the case of a proposed or final rule (including a proposed or final amendment to an existing rule) that may have an economically significant impact, to include in the notice a cost-benefit analysis demonstrating that the benefits outweigh the costs, recognizing that some benefits and costs are difficult to quantify.

Defines "economically significant impact" as an effect on the economy of at least $100 million annually or a material adverse effect on the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or state, local, or tribal governments or communities.

Prohibits any appropriations for the express purpose of carrying out such analysis and notice requirements.

Directs the FCC to presume, absent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, that: (1) forbearance requirements are met when determining whether to forbear from applying any regulation or provision under such Act to a telecommunications carrier, service, or class; and (2) regulations considered in each biennial regulatory review are no longer necessary in the public interest as the result of meaningful economic competition between providers of telecommunications service.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 655: FCC "ABCs" Act of 2015. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-655/
MLA
"H.R. 655: FCC "ABCs" Act of 2015." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-655/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 655, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-655/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 655: FCC "ABCs" Act of 2015](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-655/)
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