The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed the Safe Connections Act, bipartisan legislation authored in part by U.S. Senator Deb Fischer. The legislation will help survivors of domestic violence and other crimes cut ties with their abusers and separate from shared wireless service plans, which can be exploited to monitor, stalk, or control victims.
The Safe Connections Act would help survivors stay safe and connected by:
Allowing survivors to separate a mobile phone line from any shared plan involving an abuser without penalties or other requirements. This includes lines of any dependents in their care.
Requiring the Federal Communications Commission to adopt rules that would enroll survivors in an existing affordability program for up to six-months as they become financially stable.
Requiring the FCC to initiate a rulemaking proceeding seeking comment on the omission of calls and texts to hotlines from consumer-facing call logs to shield awareness of calls made to support services.
The bill now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.