Safe Connections Act of 2022
Dec 7, 2022
Statute: 136 Stat. 2280
Became law: Dec 7, 2022
Dec 7, 2022
Statute: 136 Stat. 2280
Became law: Dec 7, 2022
Summary
Lets survivors of abuse separate their phone line from a shared family plan without needing permission from the abuser, helping them stay safely connected.
What problem does this solve?
Abusers often control shared phone plans, using them to monitor and isolate their victims, which makes it hard for survivors to safely seek help. This law creates a way for survivors to separate their phone line from the shared plan without the abuser's permission, giving them a safe connection to support networks.
What does this law do?
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Separation of lines from shared mobile service contract
Allows survivors to separate from shared phone plans
Lets a survivor of domestic violence or other crimes remove their phone line, and the line of any child in their care, from a shared mobile plan without the permission of the main account holder.
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Limitations on penalties, fees, and other requirements
Bans fees for separating a phone line
Stops phone companies from charging any fees, penalties, or other charges to a survivor for separating a line from a shared plan.
Provides temporary financial help for phone service
Directs the FCC to create a way for survivors facing money problems to get up to 6 months of support for their phone service through federal programs like Lifeline or the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Requires proof of abuse for line separation
Requires a survivor to provide a copy of a police report, restraining order, or a signed statement from a professional like a doctor or social worker to prove their situation to the phone company.
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Confidential and secure treatment of personal information
Protects survivor's private information
Forces phone companies to keep any information submitted by a survivor confidential and to safely get rid of it within 90 days.
Considers hiding hotline calls from phone logs
Tells the FCC to look into creating a rule that would hide calls and texts to domestic violence hotlines from the call logs a user can see on their phone bill or account.
Protects phone companies from lawsuits
States that phone companies cannot be sued for actions they take to follow the rules set out in this law.
Who does this affect?
- Survivors of domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking
- Mobile service providers
- Abusers on shared mobile plans
What is the real world impact?
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Empowers survivors with safe communication
Provides a clear path for survivors to gain control over their own phone line, which is a critical tool for reaching out for help, finding work, and staying connected to family without being monitored by an abuser.
When does this start?
This law sets several deadlines for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to create new rules.
Rules for line separation
The FCC must create the final rules for how phone companies will handle line separation requests within 18 months of the law being passed.
Rules for emergency phone support
The FCC must establish rules for providing temporary financial help to survivors for their phone service within 18 months of the law's passage.
Consideration of hotline call logs
The FCC must begin the process of considering new rules about hiding hotline calls from phone logs within 180 days of the law being passed.