WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives today unanimously passed Senator Deb Fischer’s (R-Neb.) proposal to modernize outdated federal labeling requirements for electronics manufacturers. The bipartisan Enhance Labeling, Accessing, and Branding of Electronic Licenses (E-Label) Act, which unanimously passed the Senate on September 18, 2014, is now awaiting President Obama’s signature before becoming law.

“I’m pleased that both the Senate and the House has passed this commonsense legislation to provide relief for job creators, increase options for consumers and bring outdated regulations into the 21st century,” Fischer said. “This bill increases options and lowers costs for manufacturers while also making required regulatory information more easily accessible to consumers.

“I look forward to the President signing the E-LABEL Act into law and I am confident the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology will do a great job updating our labeling rules. I also thank Chairman Rockefeller for his help and leadership in advancing this bill.”

The E-LABEL Act would ease certain regulatory requirements on manufacturers of products such as phones, computers, and other electronics, by giving them the option to meet the physical label requirement digitally. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) currently requires most device manufacturers to etch or otherwise permanently place regulatory information and symbols on the exterior of approved products.  As electronic devices in the marketplace become smaller, physical label requirements may become increasingly difficult to meet and more costly for manufacturers. The e-label option promises to lower costs for both producers and consumers. Full text of the bill is available HERE.

The E-Label Act is supported by FCC Commissioners Michael O’Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel, and was cosponsored by Sen.  Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.), chair of the Senate Commerce Science and Transportation Committee, of which Fischer is also a member.

This bill is a part of Fischer’s recently-unveiled technology agenda, outlining opportunities to update the federal government’s policies and regulations impacting innovation and economic growth.