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117-hr-7132117th CongressWALLET

Safe Connections Act of 2022

Sponsored By: Representative Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2]

Became Law

Summary

This law gives survivors of domestic violence and trafficking a fast way to separate their mobile line from a shared account, cutting billing and service ties to an abuser and protecting sensitive data.

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  • Survivors: Survivors can request a line separation and providers must complete it within two business days when feasible. Separation removes the survivor from liability and billing and limits retention of sensitive verification data to 90 days.
  • Mobile providers: Providers must allow separation without fees, consent from the primary account holder, or restrictions on number portability and must offer secure remote submission where technically feasible. The law also creates a liability shield for providers and staff acting in compliance.
  • FCC and emergency support: The Federal Communications Commission must issue implementing rules within 18 months, including designating either Lifeline or the Affordable Connectivity Program for emergency support with a hardship enrollment pathway for up to six months. Rules will also cover a central hotline database, privacy safeguards, and notice requirements.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Faster plan separation for survivors

Beginning 60 days after the FCC issues rules, mobile providers must offer a clear process to split a shared plan for survivors. After you send a completed request with a qualifying affidavit or official record, the provider must separate the lines or notify you within 2 business days. Providers must allow secure remote submission when feasible, explain the steps in plain language online and in stores, and may not add extra fees, require an abuser’s consent, or block number porting. You become responsible for service charges only on numbers moved to you; you do not owe for a device unless you bought it or choose to keep it, unless a court orders otherwise. Providers must keep your documents confidential and securely dispose of them within 90 days, while keeping a minimal verification record. These rights apply to adult survivors (18+) on shared consumer plans; if a split is not technically possible, providers must notify you and offer options like starting a new line.

FCC sets survivor emergency support

The FCC must start a rulemaking within 180 days to set survivor support rules. Within 18 months, it adopts rules and names one program—Lifeline or the Affordable Connectivity Program—to provide emergency communications support, with a fast enrollment pathway for up to six months. Two years after finishing that rulemaking, the FCC must evaluate results, check for fraud and waste, and report to Congress.

Provider legal shield and CALEA unchanged

After the FCC issues rules, providers and their staff have a legal shield for actions they take to follow this law and its rules. This shield does not stop FCC enforcement. The law also does not change any law‑enforcement powers under CALEA.

Hotline calls hidden from phone logs

The FCC must start, within 180 days, a rulemaking to consider a central, monthly‑updated list of covered hotlines. The FCC will consider rules to hide calls and texts to those hotlines from customer-facing logs while keeping internal records. The rules must consider survivor and law‑enforcement access and effects on small providers. If the FCC creates the database and a provider updates its list at least every 30 days, the provider is protected from lawsuits for omitting those hotline records from customer logs.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2]

NH • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-16]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/17/2022

  • Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]

    MI • R

    Sponsored 4/11/2022

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 4/11/2022

  • Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 4/18/2022

  • Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 4/21/2022

  • Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 5/16/2022

  • Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 5/24/2022

  • Rep. Cárdenas, Tony [D-CA-29]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/12/2022

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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