The U.S. Senate on March 17 unanimously approved a bipartisan bill offered by U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) to help survivors of crime separate from shared wireless plans they might have with their abusers, who exploit such services to monitor, stalk or control them.
The Safe Connections Act of 2021, S. 120, which Sen. Fischer cosponsored in January 2021 with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.
“I’m pleased to report that Senator Schatz and I were able to pass this important legislation for survivors of domestic abuse. It is critical for survivors to gain independence and separate their mobile communications from the control of an abuser’s cell phone plan, while having the option of retaining their own number,” Sen. Fischer said. “The Safe Connections Act will do exactly that. The House should pass this bipartisan bill without delay.”
If enacted, S. 120 would allow survivors to separate a mobile phone line from any shared plan involving an abuser without penalties or other requirements, including the lines of any dependents in their care, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Fischer’s staff.
Additionally, the bill would require the Federal Communications Commission to adopt rules to enroll survivors in an existing affordability program for up to six months, and to initiate a rulemaking to seek comments on omitting calls and texts made to hotlines to shield awareness of calls made to support services, the summary says.
House Democrats on March 17 introduced their version of the bill, H.R. 7132, which has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.
S. 120 has garnered support from numerous organizations, including the Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, Access Now, the Clinic to End Tech Abuse at Cornell University, the Competitive Carriers Association, CTIA-The Wireless Association, the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Center for Democracy and Technology, the International Justice Mission, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and the National Network to End Domestic Violence, among many others.