PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.4817 / 115th Congress

PEERING Act of 2018

Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 17, 2018

Promoting Exchanges for Enhanced Routing of Information so Networks are Great Act of 2018 or the PEERING Act of 2018

This bill requires the Department of Commerce to award grants for entities to acquire real property and necessary equipment to establish a new Internet exchange facility in areas where there are no existing Internet exchange facilities, or to expand operations at an existing Internet exchange facility where there is only one Internet exchange facility. An Internet exchange facility is the physical infrastructure through which Internet service providers and content delivery networks exchange Internet traffic between their networks.

The bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to allow schools, libraries, and rural health care providers that receive funds to pay for telecommunications to use the funds to contract with a broadband provider to obtain a connection at an Internet exchange facility or to pay the costs for maintaining a connection at such a facility.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Long, Billy [R-MO-7] · R–MO

Committees

  • Energy and Commerce Committee
0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

    Actions

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

    1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

    2. Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

    3. Introduced in House

    4. Introduced in House

    Bill text & related measures

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

    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: Aug 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

    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.4817 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
    Fairness and public impact

    Progressive lens

    Examine H.R.4817 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
    Institutions and government scope

    Conservative lens

    Examine H.R.4817 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
    Individual rights and government power

    Liberty lens

    Examine H.R.4817 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