Federal · House Bill · 118th Congress, 2nd Session
HR8939
H.R. 8939 — To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to establish technical and procedural standards for artificial or prerecorded voice systems created through generative artificial intelligence, and for other purposes

Status ● Failed Effective N/A Passage Likelihood N/A

How Is This Bill Enforced

Enforcement Authority
Enforcement under existing Section 227 of the Communications Act of 1934, administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC has authority to prescribe technical and procedural standards for artificial or prerecorded voice telephone systems. Existing private right of action provisions under 47 U.S.C. § 227(b)(3) may apply to violations of standards promulgated under the amended provision.
Private Right of Action
No private right of action. Enforcement is exclusive to the designated authority.
Penalties
The bill itself does not create any new remedies or damages provisions. Existing enforcement mechanisms and remedies under 47 U.S.C. § 227 would apply to any standards promulgated under the amended provision.

What This Bill Requires

Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.

Statutory Text
Analysis & Obligations
47 U.S.C. § 227(d)(3)
Technical and procedural standards for AI-generated voice systems

1 Section 227(d)(3) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(d)(3)) is amended by inserting "(including those created through generative artificial intelligence (genAI), for example voice cloning, and other subsequent technologies as may be deemed appropriate by the Commission)" after "telephone".

This is the bill's sole operative provision. It amends Section 227(d)(3) of the Communications Act of 1934 by inserting a parenthetical clarification that the FCC's existing authority to prescribe technical and procedural standards for artificial or prerecorded voice telephone systems includes voices created through generative artificial intelligence (genAI), such as voice cloning, and other subsequent technologies as the Commission may deem appropriate.

The amendment does not create any new affirmative compliance obligation on private parties. It expands the FCC's definitional scope for rulemaking, confirming that AI-generated voices fall within the Commission's existing standards-setting authority. Any new obligations would arise only from future FCC rulemaking under this expanded authority.

Passage Likelihood

Failed
Status Failed
Final action Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Legislative History

2024-07-08 Introduced in House
2024-07-08 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Entry Last Reviewed

2026-05-15
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