H.R. 4709 (109th): Telephone Records and Privacy Protection Act of 2006

Introduced:
Feb 08, 2006 (109th Congress, 2005–2006)
Sponsor:
Rep. Lamar Smith [R-TX21]
Status:
Signed by the President

The bill’s title was written by the bill’s sponsor. H.R. stands for House of Representatives bill.

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Status

This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on January 12, 2007.

Progress
Introduced Feb 08, 2006
Referred to Committee Feb 08, 2006
Reported by Committee Mar 02, 2006
Passed House Apr 25, 2006
Passed Senate Dec 08, 2006
Signed by the President Jan 12, 2007
Votes

House Vote on Passage
Apr 25, 2006 7:14 p.m.
Passed 409/0

Cosponsors
16 cosponsors (10D, 6R) (show)
Committees

House Judiciary

Senate Judiciary

The committee chair determines whether a bill will move past the committee stage.

Full Title

To amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen protections for law enforcement officers and the public by providing criminal penalties for the fraudulent acquisition or unauthorized disclosure of phone records.

Summary

No summaries available.

Text

Read Bill Text »

Last updated Dec 21, 2006.
4 pages

Primary Source

View on THOMAS (The Library of Congress)

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Citation

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GovTrack’s Bill Summary

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Library of Congress Summary

The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress.

1/12/2007--Public Law. (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on April 25, 2006. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
Telephone Records and Privacy Protection Act of 2006 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the obtaining, in interstate or foreign commerce, of confidential phone records information from a telecommunications carrier or IP-enabled voice service provider (covered entity) by:
(1) making false or fraudulent statements to an employee of a covered entity or to a customer of a covered entity;
(2) providing false or fraudulent documents to a covered entity; or
(3) accessing customer accounts of a covered entity through the Internet or by fraudulent computer-related activities without prior authorization.
Imposes a fine and/or imprisonment of up to 10 years.
Prohibits the unauthorized sale or transfer, in interstate or foreign commerce, of confidential phone records information by any person or the purchase or receipt of such information with knowledge that it was fraudulently obtained or obtained without prior authorization.
Imposes a fine and/or imprisonment of up to 10 years.
Exempts covered entities from such restrictions to the extent authorized by the Communications Act of 1934 (e.g., for billing, protection of property rights, or for emergency purposes).
Doubles fines and imposes an additional five-year prison term for violations occurring in a 12-month period involving more than $100,000 or more than 50 customers of a covered entity. Imposes an additional five-year prison term for violations involving the use of confidential phone records information to commit crimes of violence, crimes of domestic violence, and crimes against law enforcement officials and the administration of justice.
Grants extraterritorial jurisdiction over crimes defined by this Act. Exempts lawfully authorized federal or state investigative, protective, or intelligence activities from the prohibitions of this Act.
Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend, if appropriate, federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements for crimes defined by this Act.

House Republican Conference Summary

The summary below was written by the House Republican Conference, which is the caucus of Republicans in the House of Representatives.

No summary available.

House Democratic Caucus Summary

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The bill contains the following citations to other parts of U.S. law:

United States Code

The United States Code is the compilation of permanent laws enacted by Congress. Temporary and other non-permanent laws do not appear in the United States Code. (About half of the United States Code is the law itself, called positive law. The other half is merely a compilation of the laws but has no legal significance.)

Other Citations

  • 18 U.S.C. Chapter 47