H.R.4018: To identify the current levels of savings and costs to telecommunications carriers as a result of the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, to require accurate billing by telecommunications carriers with respect to the costs and fees resulting from the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and for other purposes.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 9, 1998

Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to specified congressional committees on: (1) cost savings obtained by telecommunications carriers as a result of enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996; (2) the extent to which such savings have been passed through to customers; and (3) additional costs incurred by such carriers as a result of such Act. Requires carriers that include on customer bills a charge or charges attributed to Federal regulatory actions to: (1) specify in such bill any reduction in charges or fees allocable to all classes of customers by reason of such regulatory actions; and (2) submit to the Federal Communications Commission certain disclosure reports required to be submitted by such carriers to the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3] · D–OR

Committees

Energy and Commerce Committee

52 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jul 15, 1998
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H5504)
Jun 15, 1998
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
Jun 9, 1998
Referred to the House Committee on Commerce.
Jun 9, 1998
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4245)
Jun 9, 1998
Introduced in House
Jun 9, 1998
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jun 9, 1998 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4018 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4018, 105th Congress: To identify the current levels of savings and costs to telecommunications carriers as a result of the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, to require accurate billing by telecommunications carriers with respect to the costs and fees resulting from the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/4018

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1998-06-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr4018/BILLS-105hr4018ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:24:13Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.4018 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.4018 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4018, 105th Congress: To identify the current levels of savings and costs to telecommunications carriers as a result of the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, to require accurate billing by telecommunications carriers with respect to the costs and fees resulting from the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/4018

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1998-06-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr4018/BILLS-105hr4018ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:24:13Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4018 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4018 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4018, 105th Congress: To identify the current levels of savings and costs to telecommunications carriers as a result of the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, to require accurate billing by telecommunications carriers with respect to the costs and fees resulting from the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/4018

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1998-06-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr4018/BILLS-105hr4018ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:24:13Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4018 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4018 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4018, 105th Congress: To identify the current levels of savings and costs to telecommunications carriers as a result of the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, to require accurate billing by telecommunications carriers with respect to the costs and fees resulting from the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/4018

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1998-06-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr4018/BILLS-105hr4018ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:24:13Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4018 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.