I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2629 
To amend the National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
Organization Act to modify the 9–1–1, E9–1–1, and Next Generation 
9–1–1 program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 22, 2011 
Mr. SHIMKUS (for himself and Ms. ESHOO) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration Organization Act to modify the 9–1–1, 
E9–1–1, and Next Generation 9–1–1 program, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Next Generation 9– 
1–1 Advancement Act of 2011’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
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(1) for the sake of the public safety of our Na-
tion, a universal emergency service number (9–1–1) 
that is enhanced with the most modern and state-of- 
the-art telecommunications capabilities possible, in-
cluding voice, data, and video communications, 
should be available to all citizens wherever they live, 
work, and travel; 
(2) a successful migration to Next Generation 
9–1–1 service communications systems will require 
greater Federal, State, and local government re-
sources and coordination; 
(3) any funds that are collected from fees im-
posed on consumer bills for the purposes of funding 
9–1–1 services, enhanced 9–1–1 services, or Next 
Generation 9–1–1 services should only be used for 
the purposes for which the funds are collected; 
(4) it is a national priority to foster the migra-
tion from analog, voice-centric 9–1–1 and current 
generation emergency communications systems to a 
21st century, Next Generation, IP-based emergency 
services model that embraces a wide range of voice, 
video, and data applications; 
(5) ensuring 9–1–1 access for all citizens in-
cludes improving access to 9–1–1 systems for the 
deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, and individuals 
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with speech disabilities, who increasingly commu-
nicate with non-traditional text, video, and instant- 
messaging communications services, and who expect 
those services to be able to connect directly to 9–1– 
1 systems; 
(6) a coordinated public educational effort on 
current and emerging 9–1–1 system capabilities and 
proper use of the 9–1–1 system is essential to the 
operation of effective 9–1–1 systems; 
(7) Federal policies and funding should enable 
the transition to Internet Protocol-based (IP-based) 
Next Generation 9–1–1 systems and Federal 9–1–1 
and emergency communications laws and regulations 
must keep pace with rapidly changing technology to 
ensure an open and competitive 9–1–1 environment 
based on the most advanced technology available; 
and 
(8) Federal policies and grant programs should 
reflect the growing convergence and integration of 
emergency communications technology, such that 
State interoperability plans and Federal funding in 
support of such plans is made available for all as-
pects of Next Generation 9–1–1 service and emer-
gency communications systems. 
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SEC. 3. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to focus Federal policies and funding pro-
grams to ensure a successful migration from voice- 
centric 9–1–1 systems to IP-enabled, Next Genera-
tion 9–1–1 emergency response systems that use 
voice, data, and video services to greatly enhance the 
capability of 9–1–1 and emergency response services; 
(2) to ensure that technologically advanced 9– 
1–1 and emergency communications systems are 
universally available and adequately funded to serve 
all Americans; and 
(3) to ensure that all 9–1–1 and emergency re-
sponse organizations have access to— 
(A) high-speed broadband networks; 
(B) interconnected IP backbones; and 
(C) innovative services and applications. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, the following definitions shall apply: 
(1) 9–1–1 SERVICES, E9–1–1 SERVICES, NEXT 
GENERATION 9–1–1 SERVICES.—The terms ‘‘9–1–1 
services, E9–1–1 services, and Next Generation 9– 
1–1 services’’ shall have the meaning given those 
terms in section 158 of the National Telecommuni-
cations and Information Administration Organiza-
tion Act (47 U.S.C. 942), as amended by this Act. 
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(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Federal Communications Commission. 
(3) MULTI-LINE
TELEPHONE
SYSTEM.—The 
term ‘‘multi-line telephone system’’ or ‘‘MLTS’’ 
means a system comprised of common control units, 
telephone sets, control hardware and software and 
adjunct systems, including network and premises 
based systems, such as Centrex and VoIP, as well as 
PBX, Hybrid, and Key Telephone Systems (as clas-
sified by the Commission under part 68 of title 47, 
Code of Federal Regulations) and includes systems 
owned or leased by governmental agencies and non- 
profit entities, as well as for profit businesses. 
(4) OFFICE.—The term ‘‘Office’’ means the 9– 
1–1 Implementation Coordination Office established 
under section 158 of the National Telecommuni-
cations and Information Administration Organiza-
tion Act (47 U.S.C. 942), as amended by this Act. 
(5) PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINT.—The 
term ‘‘public safety answering point’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 222 of the Communica-
tions Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 222). 
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management plan for the grant program estab-
lished under this section, including by devel-
oping— 
‘‘(i) plans related to the organiza-
tional structure of such program; and 
‘‘(ii) funding profiles for each fiscal 
year of the 5-year duration of such pro-
gram. 
‘‘(B) SUBMISSION
TO
CONGRESS.—Not 
later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of the Next Generation 9–1–1 Advancement Act 
of 2011, the Assistant Secretary and the Ad-
ministrator shall submit the management plan 
developed under subparagraph (A) to— 
‘‘(i) the Committees on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and Appro-
priations of the Senate; and 
‘‘(ii) the Committees on Energy and 
Commerce and Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives. 
‘‘(3) PURPOSE OF OFFICE.—The Office shall— 
‘‘(A) take actions, in concert with coordi-
nators designated in accordance with subsection 
(b)(3)(A)(ii), to improve coordination and com-
munication with respect to the implementation 
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of 9–1–1 services, E9–1–1 services, and Next 
Generation 9–1–1 services; 
‘‘(B) develop, collect, and disseminate in-
formation concerning practices, procedures, and 
technology used in the implementation of 9–1– 
1 services, E9–1–1 services, and Next Genera-
tion 9–1–1 services; 
‘‘(C) advise and assist eligible entities in 
the preparation of implementation plans re-
quired under subsection (b)(3)(A)(iii); 
‘‘(D) receive, review, and recommend the 
approval or disapproval of applications for 
grants under subsection (b); and 
‘‘(E) oversee the use of funds provided by 
such grants in fulfilling such implementation 
plans. 
‘‘(4) REPORTS.—The Assistant Secretary and 
the Administrator shall provide an annual report to 
Congress by the first day of October of each year on 
the activities of the Office to improve coordination 
and communication with respect to the implementa-
tion of 9–1–1 services, E9–1–1 services, and Next 
Generation 9–1–1 services. 
‘‘(b) 9–1–1, E9–1–1 AND NEXT GENERATION 9–1– 
1 IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS.— 
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‘‘(1) MATCHING GRANTS.—The Assistant Sec-
retary and the Administrator, acting through the Of-
fice, shall provide grants to eligible entities for— 
‘‘(A) the implementation and operation of 
9–1–1 services, E9–1–1 services, migration to 
an IP-enabled emergency network, and adoption 
and operation of Next Generation 9–1–1 serv-
ices and applications; 
‘‘(B) the implementation of IP-enabled 
emergency services and applications enabled by 
Next Generation 9–1–1 services, including the 
establishment of IP backbone networks and the 
application layer software infrastructure needed 
to interconnect the multitude of emergency re-
sponse organizations; and 
‘‘(C) training public safety personnel, in-
cluding call-takers, first responders, and other 
individuals and organizations who are part of 
the emergency response chain in 9–1–1 serv-
ices. 
‘‘(2) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—The Federal 
share of the cost of a project eligible for a grant 
under this section shall not exceed 80 percent. The 
non-Federal share of the cost shall be provided from 
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non-Federal sources unless waived by the Assistant 
Secretary and the Administrator. 
‘‘(3) COORDINATION REQUIRED.—In providing 
grants under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary 
and the Administrator shall require an eligible entity 
to certify in its application that— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an eligible entity that 
is a State government, the entity— 
‘‘(i) has coordinated its application 
with the public safety answering points lo-
cated within the jurisdiction of such entity; 
‘‘(ii) has designated a single officer or 
governmental body of the entity to serve as 
the coordinator of implementation of 9–1– 
1 services, except that such designation 
need not vest such coordinator with direct 
legal authority to implement 9–1–1 serv-
ices, E9–1–1 services, or Next Generation 
9–1–1 services or to manage emergency 
communications operations; 
‘‘(iii) has established a plan for the 
coordination and implementation of 9–1–1 
services, E9–1–1 services, and Next Gen-
eration 9–1–1 services; and 
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‘‘(iv) has integrated telecommuni-
cations services involved in the implemen-
tation and delivery of 9–1–1 services, E9– 
1–1 services, and Next Generation 9–1–1 
services; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of an eligible entity that 
is not a State, the entity has complied with 
clauses (i), (iii), and (iv) of subparagraph (A), 
and the State in which it is located has com-
plied with clause (ii) of such subparagraph. 
‘‘(4) CRITERIA.—Not later than 120 days after 
the date of enactment of the Next Generation 9–1– 
1 Advancement Act of 2011, the Assistant Secretary 
and the Administrator shall issue regulations, after 
providing the public with notice and an opportunity 
to comment, prescribing the criteria for selection for 
grants under this section. The criteria shall include 
performance requirements and a timeline for comple-
tion of any project to be financed by a grant under 
this section. The Assistant Secretary and the Ad-
ministrator shall update such regulations as nec-
essary. 
‘‘(c) DIVERSION OF 9–1–1 CHARGES.— 
‘‘(1) DESIGNATED
9–1–1
CHARGES.—For the 
purposes of this subsection, the term ‘designated 9– 
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1–1 charges’ means any taxes, fees, or other charges 
imposed by a State or other taxing jurisdiction that 
are designated or presented as dedicated to deliver 
or improve 9–1–1 services, E9–1–1 services, or Next 
Generation 9–1–1 services. 
‘‘(2) CERTIFICATION.—Each applicant for a 
matching grant under this section shall certify to the 
Assistant Secretary and the Administrator at the 
time of application, and each applicant that receives 
such a grant shall certify to the Assistant Secretary 
and the Administrator annually thereafter during 
any period of time during which the funds from the 
grant are available to the applicant, that no portion 
of any designated 9–1–1 charges imposed by a State 
or other taxing jurisdiction within which the appli-
cant is located are being obligated or expended for 
any purpose other than the purposes for which such 
charges are designated or presented during the pe-
riod beginning 180 days immediately preceding the 
date of the application and continuing through the 
period of time during which the funds from the 
grant are available to the applicant. 
‘‘(3) CONDITION
OF
GRANT.—Each applicant 
for a grant under this section shall agree, as a con-
dition of receipt of the grant, that if the State or 
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