H.R. 2666 would amend existing law to prohibit federal regulation of rates charged for services related to broadband Internet access. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) currently regulates certain aspects of those services, including activities related to blocking, degrading, or charging fees to prioritize content. At this time, the agency does not regulate the prices charged to consumers for broadband services.
Based on information from the FCC, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would have no significant effect on the agency’s workload and spending relative to current policies. Moreover, under current law, the FCC is authorized to collect fees sufficient to offset the cost of its regulatory activities each year. Therefore, CBO estimates that the net cost to implement H.R. 2666 would be negligible, assuming annual appropriation actions consistent with the agency’s authorities. Because enacting H.R. 2666 would not affect direct spending or revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 2666 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.
H.R. 2666 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
