Bill Overview
Title: Safe Connections Act of 2022
Description: This act establishes requirements concerning access to communication services for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related harms. At a survivor's request, a mobile service provider must separate from a shared mobile service contract the survivor's line (and the line of any individual in the survivor's care) from the abuser's line unless separation is operationally or technologically infeasible. A survivor requesting this must (1) verify through appropriate documentation that an individual under the contract committed or allegedly committed an act of domestic violence, trafficking, or a related criminal act against the survivor; and (2) assume financial responsibility for services after a line separation. A provider may not charge fees or impose other requirements on such requests. Additionally, a provider must separate the line within two business days of receiving a request; allow requests to be made remotely (if feasible); meet conditions related to confidentiality of, disposal of, and other matters concerning communications about requests; and make information about the process for requests available through consumer-facing communications (e.g., websites). The act (1) provides liability protection for providers' acts or omissions undertaken to comply with such requests, and (2) requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules for these requests. Additionally, the FCC must (1) expand access to federally subsidized communication services for survivors facing financial hardship, and (2) evaluate this expanded access. The FCC must also consider rules requiring communication service providers to omit from consumer-facing logs calls and texts to hotlines for domestic violence and similar issues while retaining internal records.
Sponsors: Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2]
Target Audience
Population: Survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking
Estimated Size: 42000000
- Survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking rely heavily on communication services for safety and accessing resources.
- Domestic violence and human trafficking are global issues affecting millions worldwide, crossing demographic and national borders.
- Mobile service companies play a critical role in enabling survivors to separate their communication lines from abusers without penalties.
- The act's requirements are pertinent to any regions or countries with infrastructure to support its execution via service providers.
Reasoning
- The Safe Connections Act is designed to provide critical support to a highly vulnerable population group—survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Since the act's budget is limited, prioritization is essential. Thus, understanding the scale of need is crucial: an estimated 42 million people in the US may benefit from communication support to enhance their wellbeing, but the budget constraints mean it will be challenging to reach everyone immediately.
- Not all eligible individuals will utilize these services immediately, either due to lack of awareness, fear of drawing attention to their situation, or disbelief in the system's ability to help them without additional harm.
- The budget should prioritize those in immediate risk scenarios where control over communication lines can provide significant help.
- The FCC and service providers need to handle requests quickly and respectfully, recognizing the urgency and emotional toll these circumstances have on survivors, to truly impact wellbeing scores.
- The act must also ensure robust information dissemination so potential beneficiaries are aware of their entitlements under the act.
- Certain groups are likely more vulnerable and thus should be prioritized, such as those recently escaped from abusive environments or those financially trapped with their abusers.
- Immediate impacts might show moderate rises in wellbeing scores due to the sudden availability of secured personal communication channels and the removal of financial or logistical barriers to accessing them.
- Long-term impacts could range from stabilization due to increased safety and independence to further improvement as financial stability and recovery become tenable options.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (Austin, TX)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing I can control my phone line gives me a sense of security that’s long overdue.
- I wish this policy had been around when I left my ex—things might have been easier.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Retail Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Decoupling my phone from my trafficker’s account is a massive step toward feeling safe again.
- It’s crazy how something as routine as a phone bill can control so much of your life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Student (New York, NY)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’ve been shredded by financial demands, so not having more fees to worry about gives me room to breathe.
- Connecting to family and friends without fear is unimaginable but needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Healthcare Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This lets me focus completely on escaping my abusive situation without worrying about my communication security.
- I’ll share this information to as many survivors as I can.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Freelancer (Miami, FL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I was desperate for some control. This law finally gives me a way to start building trust in my own communication.
- The anticipated safety from my abuser knowing I'm no longer under watch is inspiring.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Homemaker (Rural Alabama)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My life was a phone call at a time. Cutting ties without extra burden is a miracle.
- We need more of such interventions at the grassroots level.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Tech support specialist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 39 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have advocated for years on the need to make these services accessible without extra costs.
- This is a great stepping stone for broader communication reforms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Office Manager (Denver, CO)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- To manage a separation of service without more costs is commendable. I can finally manage my interactions more securely.
- I’m cautiously optimistic about its implementation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College Student (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Creating distance from an abusive line is like flipping a page to a less terrifying chapter.
- More young people should be educated about their rights under such policies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired (Boston, MA)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s a relief that individuals today have more options to arm themselves legally without extra financial stress.
- Policies like these remind us of progress in survivors' rights.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $23000000 (Low: $18000000, High: $28000000)
Year 3: $21500000 (Low: $16500000, High: $26500000)
Year 5: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Effective implementation hinges on the cooperation of mobile service providers to establish and manage line separation processes.
- The FCC must ensure robust confidentiality and system integrity for handling requests to protect vulnerable populations.
- Survivors must be both willing and able to assume financial responsibility for post-separation services.