Bill Summary
The Emergency Reporting Act, also known as the "Emergency Reporting Act", is a bill that directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue reports after the activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) and make improvements to network outage reporting. It defines terms such as "Automatic Location Information" and "Automatic Number Identification" and identifies the FCC as the Commission. It also defines terms like "broadband internet access service" and "commercial mobile service". The bill requires the FCC to issue a preliminary report within 6 weeks of deactivating DIRS, and hold at least one public field hearing within 8 months of deactivation. It also requires the FCC to issue a final report within 12 months of deactivation, which includes recommendations for improving the resiliency of affected communications or networks. The FCC must also conduct a proceeding within 1 year of the bill's enactment to adopt rules for requiring service providers to submit timely notifications to public safety answering points in the event of a communication service disruption. These notifications must include information on the origination of 9-1-1 calls, delivery of Automatic Location Information, and Automatic Number Identification. The bill emphasizes the importance of timely and accessible reporting in emergency situations and aims to improve the overall effectiveness and resiliency of communication services during disasters or other major events.
Possible Impacts
1. The Emergency Reporting Act could affect people by requiring service providers to submit timely notifications to public safety answering points in the event of a disaster. This could improve communication during emergencies and potentially save lives.
2. The Act could also affect people by requiring the Commission to issue reports after the activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System. This could provide valuable information and recommendations for improving the resiliency of affected communications and networks.
3. The Act could also affect people by expanding the definition of certain terms, such as "broadband internet access service" and "interconnected VoIP service." This could potentially impact the regulations and policies surrounding these services, which could have an impact on individuals who use them.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4667 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4667
To direct the Federal Communications Commission to issue reports after
activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System and to make
improvements to network outage reporting.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 23, 2020
Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mr. Burr) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Federal Communications Commission to issue reports after
activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System and to make
improvements to network outage reporting.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency Reporting Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Automatic location information; automatic number
identification.--The terms ``Automatic Location Information''
and ``Automatic Number Identification'' have the meaning given
those terms in section 9.3 of title 47, Code of Federal
Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(2) Broadband internet access service.--The term
``broadband internet access service'' has the meaning given
such term in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal
Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(3) Commercial mobile service.--The term ``commercial
mobile service'' has the meaning given such term in section
332(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332(d)).
(4) Commercial mobile data service.--The term ``commercial
mobile data service'' has the meaning given such term in
section 6001 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation
Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1401).
(5) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission.
(6) Indian tribal government; local government.--The terms
``Indian Tribal government'' and ``Indian Tribal Government''
have the meaning given those terms in section 102 of the Robert
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5121).
(7) Interconnected voip service.--The term ``interconnected
VoIP service'' has the meaning given such term in section 3 of
the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153).
(8) Public safety answering point.--The term ``public
safety answering point'' has the meaning given such term in
section 222 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 222).
(9) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given such
term in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
153).
SEC. 3. REPORTS AFTER ACTIVATION OF DISASTER INFORMATION REPORTING
SYSTEM; IMPROVEMENTS TO NETWORK OUTAGE REPORTING.
(a) Reports After Activation of Disaster Information Reporting
System.--
(1) Preliminary report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 6 weeks after the
deactivation of the Disaster Information Reporting
System with respect to an event for which the System
was activated for not less than 7 days, the Commission
shall issue a preliminary report on, with respect to
such event and to the extent known--
(i) the number and duration of any outages
of--
(I) broadband internet access
service;
(II) interconnected VoIP service;
(III) commercial mobile service;
and
(IV) commercial mobile data
service;
(ii) the approximate number of users or the
amount of communications infrastructure
potentially affected by an outage described in
clause (i);
(iii) the number and duration of any
outages at public safety answering points that
prevent public safety answering points from
receiving emergency calls and routing such
calls to emergency service personnel; and
(iv) any additional information determined
appropriate by the Commission.
(B) Development of report.--The Commission shall
develop the report required by subparagraph (A) using
information collected by the Commission, including
information collected by the Commission through the
System.
(2) Public field hearings.--
(A) Requirement.--Not later than 8 months after the
deactivation of the Disaster Information Reporting
System with respect to an event for which the System
was activated for not less than 7 days, the Commission
shall hold not less than 1 public field hearing in the
area affected by such event.
(B) Inclusion of certain individuals in hearings.--
For each public field hearing held under subparagraph
(A), the Commission shall consider including--
(i) representatives of State government,
local government, or Indian Tribal governments
in areas affected by such event;
(ii) residents of the areas affected by
such event, or consumer advocates;
(iii) providers of communications services
affected by such event;
(iv) faculty of institutions of higher
education;
(v) representatives of other Federal
agencies;
(vi) electric utility providers;
(vii) communications infrastructure
companies; and
(viii) first responders, emergency
managers, or 9-1-1 directors in areas affected
by such event.
(3) Final report.--Not later than 12 months after the
deactivation of the Disaster Information Reporting System with
respect to an event for which the System was activated for not
less than 7 days, the Commission shall issue a final report
that includes, with respect to such event--
(A) the information described in paragraph (1)(A);
and
(B) any recommendations of the Commission on how to
improve the resiliency of affected communications or
networks recovery efforts.
(4) Development of reports.--In developing a report
required under this subsection, the Commission shall consider
information collected by the Commission, including information
collected by the Commission through the System, and any public
hearing described in paragraph (2) with respect to the
applicable event.
(5) Publication.--The Commission shall publish each report,
excluding information that is otherwise exempt from public
disclosure under the rules of the Commission, issued under this
subsection on the website of the Commission upon the issuance
of such report.
(b) Improvements to Network Outage Reporting.--Not later than 1
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall
conduct a proceeding and, after public notice and an opportunity for
comment, adopt rules to--
(1) determine the circumstances under which to require
service providers subject to the 9-1-1 regulations established
under part 9 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, to
submit a timely notification, (in an easily accessible format
that facilities situational awareness) to public safety
answering points regarding communications service disruptions
within the assigned territories of such public safety answering
points that prevent--
(A) the origination of 9-1-1 calls;
(B) the delivery of Automatic Location Information;
or
(C) Automatic Number Identification;
(2) require such notifications to be made; and
(3) specify the appropriate timing of such notification.
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