Skip to main content
HR 1591 115th Congress House

WiFi Capable Mobile Devices Act of 2017

Official title: To direct the Federal Communications Commission to adopt rules and conduct outreach to offer recipients of assistance under the Lifeline Assistance Program mob… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To direct the Federal Communications Commission to adopt rules and conduct outreach to offer recipients of assistance under the Lifeline Assistance Program mobile devices that are capable of receiving a WiFi signal and are capable of tethering with other WiFi compatible hardware or devices, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 16, 2017 Introduced by: Welch, Peter Democratic · Vermont See on congress.gov
Science, Technology, Communications Administrative law and regulatory proceduresEducational facilities and institutionsFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Internet and video services
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Internet, web applications, social mediaLibraries and archivesTelecommunication rates and feesTelephone and wireless communication
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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
Mar 17, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Mar 16, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mar 16, 2017
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action March 17, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

WiFi Capable Mobile Devices Act of 2017

This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue rules to ensure that providers of mobile broadband Internet access service supported through the Lifeline Assistance Program offer mobile devices that are capable of: (1) receiving WiFi or other wireless broadband signals using unlicensed spectrum, and (2) sharing a mobile service connection (commonly referred to as "tethering") with other compatible hardware or devices. (The Lifeline program provides discounts on telephone service to qualifying low-income consumers.)

The FCC must also provide incentives to such providers to work with schools and libraries to conduct outreach to those eligible for Lifeline assistance.

 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. 1591: WiFi Capable Mobile Devices Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1591/
MLA
"H.R. 1591: WiFi Capable Mobile Devices Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1591/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1591, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1591/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1591: WiFi Capable Mobile Devices Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1591/)
Report a problem