MA H139

Bill

Protecting internet access during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduced
03/29/2021

In Committee
03/29/2021

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
12/31/2022

Introduced Session

192nd General Court

Bill Summary

Relative to protecting internet access during the COVID-19 pandemic. Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity.

AI Summary

This bill aims to protect internet access during the COVID-19 pandemic. It defines key terms like "Broadband Internet Access Service" and "Internet Service Provider," and prohibits these providers from increasing costs, adding new fees, imposing data caps, or shutting off service for subscribers facing financial hardship due to the pandemic. The bill also establishes a moratorium on pre-existing data caps and exempts mobile internet service providers from its provisions. The bill is set to expire 60 days after the termination of the governor's state of emergency declaration, with the possibility of a 180-day extension.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (88)

Dave Rogers (D)*, Andy Vargas (D)*, Christine Barber (D), John Barrett (D), Natalie Blais (D), Michael Brady (D), Linda Campbell (D), Pete Capano (D), Dan Carey (D), Harriette Chandler (D), Jo Comerford (D), Mike Connolly (D), Claire Cronin (D), John Cronin (D), Angelo D'Emilia (R), Mike Day (D), Marjorie Decker (D), Marcos Devers (D), Sal DiDomenico (D), Diana Dizoglio (D), Carol Doherty (D), Mindy Domb (D), Dan Donahue (D), Pat Duffy (D), Jamie Eldridge (D), Nika Elugardo (D), Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D), Kim Ferguson (R), Dylan Fernandes (D), Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D), Mike Finn (D), Carole Fiola (D), Brandy Fluker Oakley (D), Sean Garballey (D), Colleen Garry (D), Carmine Gentile (D), Jessica Giannino (D), Adam Gómez (D), Carlos González (D), Tami Gouveia (D), Danielle Gregoire (D), Sheila Harrington (R), Jim Hawkins (D), Chris Hendricks (D), Kevin Honan (D), Vanna Howard (D), Steven Howitt (R), Brad Jones (R), Patrick Kearney (D), Mary Keefe (D), John Keenan (D), Kay Khan (D), Meghan Kilcoyne (D), David LeBoeuf (D), Jack Lewis (D), David Linsky (D), Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D), Jay Livingstone (D), Adrian Madaro (D), Elizabeth Malia (D), Joe McKenna (R), Christina Minicucci (D), Liz Miranda (D), Mike Moore (D), Frank Moran (D), Susan Moran (D), Matt Muratore (R), Tram Nguyen (D), Jake Oliveira (D), Steve Owens (D), Smitty Pignatelli (D), Angelo Puppolo (D), Orlando Ramos (D), Becca Rausch (D), Dave Robertson (D), Maria Robinson (D), Lindsay Sabadosa (D), Adam Scanlon (D), Dan Sena (D), Mike Soter (R), Tom Stanley (D), Walter Timilty (D), Chynah Tyler (D), Dave Vieira (R), Tommy Vitolo (D), Tom Walsh (D), Bud Williams (D), Steve Xiarhos (R),

Last Action

Accompanied a study order, see H5040 (on 08/29/2022)

Official Document

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H139

(22 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H139
Bill	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H139.pdf

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
H137	Establishing free broadband internet access in public housing	Accompanied a study order, see H5040	Similar To
H141	Removing barriers to internet regulation, competition and affordability	Accompanied a study order, see H5040	Similar To
H3702	Providing for Massachusetts COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave	Signed by the Governor, Chapter 16 of the Acts of 2021	Similar To
H3771	Similar Bills	Text of amendment, see H3702	Similar To
H3872	Similar Bills	Published as amended, see H3874	Similar To
H4461	Relative to work and family mobility	Published as amended, see H4470	Similar To
H4470	Relative to work and family mobility	Reported by H4805	Similar To
H494	Relative to a COVID-19 presumption for public employees	Accompanied a study order, see H4968	Similar To
H5040	Study Order	No further action taken	Replaced by
H5055	Relative to the educational needs of students whose education was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 emergency	Read; and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means	Similar To
S1193	Relative to manufacturing and factory worker protection from COVID-19	Accompanied a study order, see S2691	Similar To
S1194	Relative to occupational presumption and COVID-19	Accompanied a study order, see S2691	Similar To
S1450	Relative to notification of front-line health care workers to exposure of Coronavirus	Accompanied a study order, see S2887	Similar To
S1897	Providing financial relief to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic	Accompanied a study order, see H5250	Similar To
S2289	Relative to work and family mobility during and subsequent to the COVID-19 emergency	Accompanied a new draft, see H4459	Similar To
S2401	Providing COVID-19 emergency financial relief for veterans	Accompanied a study order, see S2680	Similar To
S2472	Relative to extending certain COVID-19 measures adopted during the state of emergency	No further action taken	Similar To
S250	To ensure the health and safety of the commonwealth’s students and educators	Accompanied a study order, see H4938	Similar To
S2516	Mitigating COVID-19 transmission among children and families	Accompanied a study order, see S2756	Similar To
S2982	Relative to extending certain state of emergency accommodations	Reprinted, as amended, see S2985	Similar To
S45	Protecting internet access during the COVID-19 pandemic	Accompanied a study order, see S2683	Similar To
S56	Ensuring accessible and reliable internet service to promote public safety	Accompanied a study order, see S2683	Similar To

Bill > H139

MA H139

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (88)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

bill summary

bill summary

bill summary