Bipartisan Support for 911 Fee Integrity Act, Other Legislation at House Hearing
The 911 Fee Integrity Act (HR-6424) and two other public safety telecom-related bills drew bipartisan backing during a Wednesday House Communications Subcommittee hearing, though some Democrats insisted more federal funding will be needed for the legislation to be effective. House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and others invoked the Next Generation 9-1-1 Act (HR-4672/S-2061). The subcommittee also examined the National Non-Emergency Mobile Number Act (HR-5700) and Anti-Swatting Act (HR-6003).
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HR-6424 and the other bills will collectively “strengthen the 911 system and enhance public safety,” said House Commerce Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore. House Communications Vice Chairman Leonard Lance, R-N.J., also touted the three bills, noting all had bipartisan backing. HR-5700 would direct the FCC to create a unified wireless number for critical nonemergency situations on U.S. highways (see 1805090033). HR-6003 would increase criminal penalties against individuals who intentionally transmit false or misleading caller ID information to public safety answering points with the aim of triggering an emergency response. HR-6424 would bar states from engaging in 911 fee diversion and give the FCC the power to decide on “acceptable” uses for the money (see 1808170023).
House Communications ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., backed HR-5700 and HR-6003, hoping “we can advance” them in the future. But “none of these bills or [House Commerce's] other efforts have gone far enough to address many of the underlying challenges facing” the public safety communications sector, he said. “Public safety agencies need a strong federal partner to ensure that they have the technology and solutions deployed to meet the needs of our country.” Pallone touted HR-4672 and the Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s America Act (HR-2479) as ways to help PSAPs upgrade 911 technologies.
HR-2479 and HR-4672 are “commonsense proposals that we should be able to work on together,” Pallone said. “In the coming year, I urge my colleagues to work with me on legislation to upgrade our nation’s infrastructure, including our public safety systems.” HR-2479 proposes $40 billion for broadband deployment as part of a broader infrastructure package (see 1706020056). HR-4672/S-2061 would add new federal funding for NG-911 transitions and technical assistance while also maintaining state and local control of 911 systems (see 1712180066). NG-911 Institute Executive Director Patrick Halley told us he believes Democrats may try to push HR-4672 if they win a House majority in the November election.
The FCC meanwhile voted 4-0 for an NPRM to implement the Kari's Law Act mandate for direct-dial 911 calling from centralized phone systems in “in larger buildings and on campuses (see 1809260047). The NPRM would also implement language in the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services (Ray Baum's) Act requiring the FCC to consider adopting dispatchable-location rules to ensure emergency call centers automatically receive accurate and precise information on a caller's location, regardless of the technology.