[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 25, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1922-H1924] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-25
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. PALLONE: I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1353, the Advanced, Local Emergency Response Telecommunications Parity Act, or the ALERT Parity Act. This bipartisan bill will enhance wireless connectivity in remote and hard-to-reach places to ensure that people can always reach out to emergency services and family during emergencies. H.R. 1353 will help the Federal Communications Commission utilize satellite technology to deliver emergency connectivity service to remote areas or areas experiencing service outages caused by natural disasters. This is particularly important for rural and Tribal areas that have been particularly devastated by the lack of access to 911 and emergency alerts due to limited wireless coverage. This bill is needed now because over the last few months many 5G mobile providers and equipment manufacturers have announced partnerships with satellite operators to deliver emergency communication to consumers where wireless coverage is lacking or nonexistent. These efforts are likely to offer tangible benefits to consumers as the partnerships will enable wireless service providers to offer consumers universal coverage and enhance access to emergency services. It is likely that consumer demand for satellite services will grow in the future as wireless carriers and phone manufacturers continue to build this capability into their networks and phones. This additional layer of protection is also a welcome sign given that the worsening climate crisis is causing more frequent and extreme weather events. Mobile service is essential for receiving emergency alerts with lifesaving information. Resilient communications networks can be the difference between life and death when the unexpected strikes. Satellite systems will be crucial in helping ensure that consumers have the necessary details to navigate through these emergency situations. To help advance these efforts, H.R. 1353 directs the FCC to issue rules so that satellite providers can offer emergency connectivity services in areas that currently do not have access to such services or areas that have been impacted by a disaster. The legislation also requires the FCC to annually report to Congress on the instances where satellite providers utilized the rules to provide emergency services and where such providers were denied the opportunity to offer these lifesaving services. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Schrier and Johnson for their bipartisan work on this bill. With this legislation, consumers can rest assured that if they find themselves in an area without service, whether it is because of lack of coverage, the result of natural disaster, or for some other reason, they will continue to have the ability to reach first responders and loved ones during an emergency. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation that unanimously advanced out of the Energy and Commerce Committee last month, and I reserve the balance of my time.