Representative Austin Scott (R-GA) has introduced the Stop Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2017 (H.R. 3546). The bill, if passed, would prohibit all mobile wireless providers from receiving universal service fund support from the Lifeline program beginning in 2018. Representative Scott’s bill also contains a provision requiring 2018 universal service fund contributions to be collected as if wireless providers will receive the same amount of Lifeline support received in 2017. It then directs this excess funding to be deposited in the general fund of the U.S. Treasury for the sole purpose of deficit reduction. The bill has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Representative Scott has introduced similar versions of the bill in the last two congresses.