WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate today approved an amendment sponsored by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) to upgrade the 911 system used to reach operators in an emergency. The measure was added to S. 4, the Improving America's Security by Implementing Unfinished Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, which passed the Senate and sponsored Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas), Senator Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), and Senator David Vitter (R-La.) The amendment was originally introduced as a stand alone bill, S. 93, the 911 Modernization Act, sponsored by Senator Stevens and co-sponsored by Senator Clinton and Senator Hutchinson, which passed the Commerce Committee unanimously.

“This amendment will accelerate the pace of 911 upgrades which are desperately needed throughout the country, especially in rural ,” said Senator Stevens.  “We must work together in both the House and the Senate to make sure that this measure gets signed into law as soon as possible so these 911 grants can be put to work saving lives.”

“Our 911 call centers are often the first point of contact for any emergency incident and they are also the ones that often coordinate the emergency response,” said Senator Clinton.  “Our amendment will provide resources for our 911 call centers to make needed technological upgrades that can be the critical difference between a successful rescue or tragedy.  I urge my colleagues to make sure this provision is in the final bill and signed into law.”

The two leading 911 organizations, the National Emergency Number Association and the Association for Public-Safety Communications Officials-International, have asked that Congress move forward with this issue citing the fact that half of the nation's counties do not have “enhanced” or E-911 capability.  This E-911 capability will enable public safety call centers to identify the number of the caller and pinpoint the geographic location of the call.  This bill expedites the funding for new 911 technological upgrades using money that Congress has already allocated and would fund the grant program established under the “Ensuring Needed Help Arrives Near Callers Employing 911 (ENHANCE) Act” which was signed into law in 2004. The reconciliation bill of 2005 made $43.5 million available from the auction of TV spectrum now scheduled for 2008.  This bill will make those funds available immediately to public safety groups so they do not have to wait until after the digital transition auction.  The funds will be replaced after the auction is held, which is expected to be later this year.

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