Description:
H.R. 4227 would prohibit any person from willfully, knowingly, or recklessly submitting inaccurate information or data related to the geographic coverage of broadband Internet service to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Violators would be subject to criminal and civil penalties in the same amounts currently imposed on anyone who knowingly provides inaccurate information to the FCC. CBO estimates that it would cost the FCC less than $500,000 to update rules to implement the act. However, the FCC is authorized to collect fees sufficient to offset the costs of its appropriated regulatory activities each year; therefore, CBO estimates that the net effect on spending subject to appropriation would be negligible, assuming appropriation actions consistent with that authority. CBO estimates any increases in collections of civil and criminal penalties (which are recorded in the budget as revenues) would be insignificant under H.R. 4227. Criminal penalties are deposited in the Crime Victims Fund and are later spent without further appropriation. CBO expects any additional revenues and associated direct spending would not be significant because relatively few additional cases probably would be affected by the act.
