Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act

Bill: 114-hr-3998
Sponsor: Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6]
Introduced: 2015-11-16 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Disaster relief and insurance
Emergency communications systems
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Government studies and investigations
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: 

Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act

 
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to commence proceedings on the provision of roaming agreements between mobile service providers to: (1) allow for mobile service at reasonable rates during emergencies when there is a mobile service outage lasting longer than 24 hours, and (2) provide for roaming agreements at no charge for communications during emergencies to or from 911 services. 
 
The types of emergencies subject to this Act are: (1) occasions or instances under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for which the President determines that federal assistance is needed to supplement state and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States; or (2) an emergency declared by the governor of a state or U.S. territory.
 
The FCC must create a master point of contact directory for communications between public safety answering points and telecommunications service providers.
 
The FCC must also submit a study on mobile service providers supplying outage data to public safety answering points and on making WiFi access points available to the public for 911 services during emergencies.
 
The Government Accountability Office must report on the resiliency of telecommunications networks power utility during emergencies.
 
The Stafford Act is amended to include all categories of communications service providers (currently, only telecommunications service providers) among the essential service providers that may access a disaster site to restore and repair essential services in an emergency or major disaster without being denied or impeded by a federal agency. Communications services include wireline and mobile telephone, Internet, radio and television broadcasting, cable, and direct broadcast satellite services.
 
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must: (1) ensure that essential service providers have escorts to relevant locations and priority access to relevant resources, and (2) establish a program to provide credentials to essential service providers to facilitate such access.

action_date: 2016-05-23
text: 

Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to submit to Congress and publish on the FCC website a study on the public safety benefits, technical feasibility, and cost of providing the public with access to 9-1-1 services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable, through:
 
 
telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points and other communications technologies operating on unlicensed spectrum, without requiring any login credentials;
 
non-telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points; and
 
other alternative means. 
 
The types of emergencies subject to this bill are: (1) occasions or instances under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for which the President determines that federal assistance is needed to supplement state and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States; or (2) an emergency declared by the governor of a state or U.S. territory.
 
(Sec. 3) The Stafford Act is amended to expand the categories of essential service providers that may access a disaster site to restore and repair essential services in an emergency or major disaster without being denied or impeded by a federal agency. Services to be considered essential are wireline or mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio or television broadcasting, cable service, or direct broadcast satellite service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-24
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 389 - 2 (Roll no. 230). (text: CR H2890)
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 389 - 2 (Roll no. 230).(text: CR H2890)
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2930)
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3998.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2890-2891)
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Mr. Walden moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 453.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Committee on Transportation discharged.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Committee on Transportation discharged.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 114-583, Part I.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 114-583, Part I.
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-04-26
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-04-25
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-04-19
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2016-04-19
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-11-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
action_date: 2015-11-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Introduced in House