Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act

Bill: 114-hr-3998
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6]
Introduced: 2015-11-16
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
Latest action: action_date: 2016-05-24
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-11-16
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act</b></p> <p>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. </p> <p>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.</p> <p>The FCC must create a master point of contact directory for communications between public safety answering points and telecommunications service providers.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>The Government Accountability Office must report on the resiliency of telecommunications networks power utility during emergencies.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p>

action_date: 2016-05-23
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p><b>Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act</b></p> <p>(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:</p> <ul> <li>telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points and other communications technologies operating on unlicensed spectrum, without requiring any login credentials;</li> <li>non-telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points; and</li> <li>other alternative means. </ul> <p>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.</p> <p>(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.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3998 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 16, 2015 Mr. Pallone introduced the following bill; which was 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 A BILL To direct the Federal Communications Commission to commence proceedings related to the resiliency of critical telecommunications networks during times of emergency, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act . 2. Proceedings related to cellular network resiliency (a) Roaming agreements Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall commence a proceeding on the provision of roaming agreements between mobile service providers which shall allow for mobile service at reasonable rates during times of emergency during which there is a mobile service outage lasting longer than 24 hours. (b) Emergency communications Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall commence a proceeding on the provision of roaming agreements between mobile service providers at no charge for all communications during times of emergency to or from 911 services. (c) Directory (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall create a master point of contact directory to provide for effective communication between public safety answering points and telecommunications service providers. (2) Confidentiality The directory established under this subsection shall be available to telecommunications service providers and public safety answering points on a confidential basis. (3) Exemption from Paperwork Reduction Act requirements In establishing this directory, the Commission shall be exempted from chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the Paperwork Reduction Act). (d) Study on network resiliency Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress, and make publically available on the Commission’s website, a study on— (1) mobile service providers supplying outage data to public safety answering points in times of emergency on a confidential basis; and (2) (A) making telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points, and other communications technologies operating on unlicensed spectrum, available to the general public for access to 911 services, without requiring any login credentials, during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable; and (B) whether non-telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points can provide public access to 911 services during times of emergency. 3. GAO study and report (a) Study The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on— (1) the resiliency of telecommunications networks power utility during times of emergency; (2) how Federal agencies can better ensure critical telecommunications networks remain operational during times of emergency; (3) the feasibility of mobile service infrastructure receiving backup electrical power from the infrastructure or buildings to which such mobile service infrastructure are affixed during times of emergency; (4) the feasibility and advisability of adding points of contact for local utilities to the directory described in section 2(c); and (5) any legislative matters Congress should consider to help promote network resiliency. (b) Report Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall transmit a report to Congress containing the findings and recommendations of the study required by subsection (a). 4. Priority access to essential service providers during federally declared emergencies Section 427 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5189e ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking telecommunications service and inserting communications service, including wireline and mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio and television broadcasting, cable service, and direct broadcast satellite service ; (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e); and (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Priority access and escorts Unless exceptional circumstances apply, in an emergency or major disaster, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to the greatest extent practicable, shall take actions to ensure that an essential service provider has— (1) priority access to relevant locations and resources; and (2) escorts to relevant locations. (d) Credentials Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall establish a program to provide credentials to essential service providers to facilitate access to relevant locations and resources for such providers. . 5. Definitions As used in this Act and for purposes of the rules required by this Act— (1) the term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission; (2) the term mobile service means commercial mobile service (as defined in section 332 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 332 )) or commercial mobile data service (as defined in section 6001 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 ( 47 U.S.C. 1401 )); (3) the term mobile service infrastructure means a site or similar facility used to transmit or receive mobile service signals; (4) the term WiFi access point means wireless Internet access using the standard designated as 802.11 or any variant thereof; and (5) the term times of emergency means either an emergency as defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5122 ), or an emergency as declared by the governor of a State or territory of the United States.

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3998 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To direct the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a study on network resiliency during times of emergency, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act . 2. Study on network resiliency Not later than 36 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress, and make publically available on the Commission’s website, a study on the public safety benefits and technical feasibility and cost of— (1) making telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points, and other communications technologies operating on unlicensed spectrum, available to the general public for access to 9–1–1 services, without requiring any login credentials, during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable; (2) the provision by non-telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points of public access to 9–1–1 services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable; and (3) other alternative means of providing the public with access to 9–1–1 services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable. 3. Access to essential service providers during federally declared emergencies Section 427(a)(1)(A) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5189e(a)(1)(A) ) is amended by striking telecommunications service and inserting wireline or mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio or television broadcasting, cable service, or direct broadcast satellite service . 4. Definitions As used in this Act— (1) the term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission; (2) the term mobile service means commercial mobile service (as defined in section 332 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 332 )) or commercial mobile data service (as defined in section 6001 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 ( 47 U.S.C. 1401 )); (3) the term WiFi access point means wireless Internet access using the standard designated as 802.11 or any variant thereof; and (4) the term times of emergency means either an emergency as defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5122 ), or an emergency as declared by the governor of a State or territory of the United States.

Passed the House of Representatives May 23, 2016. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3998 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 24, 2016 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation AN ACT To direct the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a study on network resiliency during times of emergency, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act . 2. Study on network resiliency Not later than 36 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress, and make publically available on the Commission’s website, a study on the public safety benefits and technical feasibility and cost of— (1) making telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points, and other communications technologies operating on unlicensed spectrum, available to the general public for access to 9–1–1 services, without requiring any login credentials, during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable; (2) the provision by non-telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points of public access to 9–1–1 services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable; and (3) other alternative means of providing the public with access to 9–1–1 services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable. 3. Access to essential service providers during federally declared emergencies Section 427(a)(1)(A) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5189e(a)(1)(A) ) is amended by striking telecommunications service and inserting wireline or mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio or television broadcasting, cable service, or direct broadcast satellite service . 4. Definitions As used in this Act— (1) the term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission; (2) the term mobile service means commercial mobile service (as defined in section 332 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 332 )) or commercial mobile data service (as defined in section 6001 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 ( 47 U.S.C. 1401 )); (3) the term WiFi access point means wireless Internet access using the standard designated as 802.11 or any variant thereof; and (4) the term times of emergency means either an emergency as defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5122 ), or an emergency as declared by the governor of a State or territory of the United States.

Passed the House of Representatives May 23, 2016. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 453 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3998 [Report No. 114–583, Part I] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 16, 2015 Mr. Pallone introduced the following bill; which was 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 May 23, 2016 Additional sponsors: Mr. Sires , Mrs. Watson Coleman , Mr. Pascrell , and Mr. Payne May 23, 2016 Reported from the Committee on Energy and Commerce with amendments Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic May 23, 2016 The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on November 16, 2015 A BILL To direct the Federal Communications Commission to commence proceedings related to the resiliency of critical telecommunications networks during times of emergency, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act . 2. Study on network resiliency Not later than 36 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress, and make publically available on the Commission’s website, a study on— (1) making telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points, and other communications technologies operating on unlicensed spectrum, available to the general public for access to 911 services, without requiring any login credentials, during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable; and (2) whether non-telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points can provide public access to 911 services during times of emergency. 3. Access to essential service providers during federally declared emergencies Section 427(a)(1)(A) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5189e(a)(1)(A) ) is amended by striking telecommunications service and inserting wireline or mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio or television broadcasting, cable service, or direct broadcast satellite service . 4. Definitions As used in this Act and for purposes of the rules required by this Act— (1) the term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission; (2) the term mobile service means commercial mobile service (as defined in section 332 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 332 )) or commercial mobile data service (as defined in section 6001 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 ( 47 U.S.C. 1401 )); (3) the term WiFi access point means wireless Internet access using the standard designated as 802.11 or any variant thereof; and (4) the term times of emergency means either an emergency as defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5122 ), or an emergency as declared by the governor of a State or territory of the United States.

Amend the title so as to read: A bill to direct the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a study on network resiliency during times of emergency, and for other purposes. .

May 23, 2016 Reported from the Committee on Energy and Commerce with amendments May 23, 2016 The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed