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S 2853 115th Congress Senate Science, Technology, Communications Administrative law and regulatory procedures Consumer affairs Internet and video services Internet, web applications, social media

A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure Internet openness, to prohibit blocking lawful content and non-harmful devices, to prohibit throttling data, to prohibit paid prioritization,…

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A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure Internet openness, to prohibit blocking lawful content and non-harmful devices, to prohibit throttling data, to prohibit paid prioritization, to require transparency of network management practices, to provide that broadband shall be considered to be an information service, and to prohibit the Commission or a State commission from relying on section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 as a grant of authority.

Introduced: May 16, 2018 Introduced by: Thune, John Republican · South Dakota See on congress.gov
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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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 16, 2018
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
May 16, 2018
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require a person engaged in the provision of broadband Internet access service to publicly disclose accurate and relevant information about network management practices, performance, and commercial terms of its broadband Internet access services, and to restrict such a person from:

  • blocking lawful content, applications, or services;
  • prohibiting the use of non-harmful devices;
  • throttling lawful traffic by selectively slowing, speeding, degrading, or enhancing Internet traffic based on source, destination, or content; and
  • engaging in paid prioritization.
What's happening now May 16, 2018

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

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2853: A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure Internet openness, to prohibit blocking lawful content and non-harmful devices, to prohibit throttling data, to prohibit paid prioritization, to require transparency of network management practices, to provide that broadband shall be considered to be an information service, and to prohibit the Commission or a State commission from relying on section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 as a grant of authority.. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-2853/
MLA
"S. 2853: A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure Internet openness, to prohibit blocking lawful content and non-harmful devices, to prohibit throttling data, to prohibit paid prioritization, to require transparency of network management practices, to provide that broadband shall be considered to be an information service, and to prohibit the Commission or a State commission from relying on section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 as a grant of authority.." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-2853/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2853, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-2853/.
Markdown link
[S. 2853: A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure Internet openness, to prohibit blocking lawful content and non-harmful devices, to prohibit throttling data, to prohibit paid prioritization, to require transparency of network management practices, to provide that broadband shall be considered to be an information service, and to prohibit the Commission or a State commission from relying on section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 as a grant of authority.](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-2853/)
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