Advanced, Local Emergency Response Telecommunications Parity Act

Bill: 118-hr-1353
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Bill [R-OH-6]
Introduced: 2023-03-03 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advanced technology and technological innovations
Congressional oversight
Emergency communications systems
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Government information and archives
Radio spectrum allocation
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-03
text: 

Advanced, Local Emergency Response Telecommunications Parity Act or the ALERT Parity Act

 
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to facilitate the provision of emergency communication services (e.g., 9-1-1 calls and emergency alerts) in unserved areas. An unserved area is one that has no commercial mobile service capable of providing emergency services because of a lack of infrastructure, destruction of infrastructure, a power outage, or other reason.
 
The FCC must establish a process for companies to apply for approval to access the electromagnetic spectrum in order to provide emergency services in unserved areas. To obtain approval, a company must certify that it (1) has a technical proposal for providing services, (2) will not use the spectrum to provide additional services, and (3) has the capability to provide the services rapidly. The company must also certify that the services can withstand earthquakes, hurricanes, and other major disasters. The FCC must publish a list of approved providers online.
 
Additionally, the bill provides protections for authorized users of the spectrum. For example, a provider with FCC approval to provide emergency services to an area under this bill may only access the spectrum if (1) the entity that is typically authorized to use it expressly consents in writing to the approved provider's use, and (2) the approved provider's use does not interfere with the authorized entity's use.
 
The bill also limits the liability of an approved provider for certain harms resulting from the transmission of (or failure to transmit) emergency alerts or the release of subscriber information when delivering an alert.

action_date: 2023-04-24
text: 

Advanced, Local Emergency Response Telecommunications Parity Act or the ALERT Parity Act

 
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to facilitate the provision of emergency communication services (e.g., 9-1-1 calls and emergency alerts) in unserved areas. An unserved area is one that has no commercial mobile service capable of providing emergency services because of a lack of infrastructure, destruction of infrastructure, a power outage, or other reason.
 
The FCC must establish a process for companies to apply for approval to access the electromagnetic spectrum in order to provide emergency services in unserved areas. To obtain approval, a company must demonstrate that it (1) has a technical proposal for providing services, (2) will not use the spectrum to provide additional services, and (3) has the capability to provide the services rapidly. The company must also demonstrate that the services can withstand earthquakes, hurricanes, and other major disasters. The FCC must publish a list of approved providers online.
 
Additionally, the bill provides protections for authorized users of the spectrum. For example, a provider with FCC approval to provide emergency services to an area under this bill may only access the spectrum if (1) the entity that is typically authorized to use it expressly consents in writing to the approved provider's use, and (2) the approved provider's use does not interfere with the authorized entity's use. Authorized entities that receive a request for consent must reasonably engage with the provider submitting the request.
 
The bill also limits the liability of an approved provider for certain harms resulting from the transmission of (or failure to transmit) emergency alerts or the release of subscriber information when delivering an alert.

action_date: 2023-04-26
text: 

Advanced, Local Emergency Response Telecommunications Parity Act or the ALERT Parity Act

 
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to facilitate the provision of emergency communication services (e.g., 9-1-1 calls and emergency alerts) in unserved areas. An unserved area is one that has no commercial mobile service capable of providing emergency services because of a lack of infrastructure, destruction of infrastructure, a power outage, or other reason.
 
The FCC must establish a process for companies to apply for approval to access the electromagnetic spectrum in order to provide emergency services in unserved areas. To obtain approval, a company must demonstrate that it (1) has a technical proposal for providing services, (2) will not use the spectrum to provide additional services, and (3) has the capability to provide the services rapidly. The company must also demonstrate that the services can withstand earthquakes, hurricanes, and other major disasters. The FCC must publish a list of approved providers online.
 
Additionally, the bill provides protections for authorized users of the spectrum. For example, a provider with FCC approval to provide emergency services to an area under this bill may only access the spectrum if (1) the entity that is typically authorized to use it expressly consents in writing to the approved provider's use, and (2) the approved provider's use does not interfere with the authorized entity's use. Authorized entities that receive a request for consent must reasonably engage with the provider submitting the request.
 
The bill also limits the liability of an approved provider for certain harms resulting from the transmission of (or failure to transmit) emergency alerts or the release of subscriber information when delivering an alert.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2023-04-26
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2023-04-26
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 422 - 1 (Roll no. 197). (text: 4/25/2023 CR H1922-1923)
action_date: 2023-04-26
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): 422 - 1 (Roll no. 197). (text: 4/25/2023 CR H1922-1923)
action_date: 2023-04-26
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1978-1979)
action_date: 2023-04-25
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: 2023-04-25
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1353.
action_date: 2023-04-25
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1921-1924)
action_date: 2023-04-25
text: Mr. Latta moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2023-04-24
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 25.
action_date: 2023-04-24
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 118-39.
action_date: 2023-04-24
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 118-39.
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 46 - 0.
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2023-03-08
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 0 .
action_date: 2023-03-08
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2023-03-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
action_date: 2023-03-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2023-03-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-03-03
text: Introduced in House