Should Families of Fallen & Critically Injured Servicemembers be Able to End Phone, Cable & Internet Services Without Penalties? (H.R. 4356)

What is H.R. 4356?

(Updated December 25, 2020)

This bill — the Protecting Families of Fallen Servicemembers Act — would allow families of fallen and critically injured servicemembers to end their phone, cable, or internet connections without a financial penalty. It would serve as an additional protection, of which there are already many, for families after a servicemember’s death.

Argument in favor

When a servicemember is killed or wounded serving overseas, their family is under tremendous strain. There’s no reason to make these situations harder by allowing companies to impose penalties for cancelling no-longer needed services on grieving military families. Making this allowance for families that have made great sacrifices for the U.S. is a drop in the bucket to large phone, cable, and internet companies — and it’s the right thing to do.

Argument opposed

Phone, cable, and internet companies rely on the steady revenue from contracts to keep their businesses solvent. While military families’ losses are tragic, they don’t nullify legally binding contracts — so, unfortunately, they still need to pay early termination fees and applicable penalties like any other customers if they end phone, cable, or internet contracts early.

Impact

Fallen and critically injured servicemembers’ families; fallen and critically injured servicemembers; phone, cable, or internet contracts owned by families of fallen and critically injured servicemembers; phone companies; cable companies; and internet companies.

Cost of H.R. 4356

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA) introduced this bill to allow families of fallen and critically injured servicemembers to end their phone, cable, or internet connect without a financial penalty: 

“If your family member is killed or wounded while serving overseas, the last thing you need to worry about is fighting your internet company. Military families already make a huge sacrifice, and losing a loved one is one more reminder that our heroes in uniform don’t serve alone. Folks who lose a loved one in the line of duty may have to move or experience changes in income that mean they need to end their phone or internet contract – they shouldn’t be on the hook for extra fees after such a devastating loss. This is obvious, common sense stuff.”

After this bill passed the House Veterans Affairs Committee by voice vote, Rep. Harder said: 

“We owe our men and women in uniform for their service and sacrifice in defense of our country. You expect that companies would do the right thing if a servicemember dies in the line of duty – unfortunately, that’s not always the case. This bill will ensure that grieving loved ones of a fallen hero don’t have to fight their cable or cell phone company to change their service – it’s the last thing these folks need to be worrying about. Getting this through committee is a huge milestone – next stop is the House Floor.” 

Original cosponsor Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) adds: 

“The families of our nation’s servicemembers deserve support when tragedy strikes. This bill would ensure spouses of servicemembers who are killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty are not trapped in contracts.”

This legislation passed the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee by voice vote with the support of one cosponsor, Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH). It’s expected to pass the full House.

Last year, the House passed similar legislation. However, the Senate failed to include it in a larger bill.

Of Note: Changes in salary and necessary moves after a servicemember’s death often mean a military family needs to terminate their phone, cable, and/or internet contracts. However, at present, companies often deny these requests or assess fees for breaking a contract. 

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA) Press Release
• Sponsoring Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA) Press Release After Committee Passage