WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate today approved H.R. 3403, the New and Emerging

Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008, which contains key compromise provisions authored by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Commerce Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine). 

 

This legislation ensures that Americans using Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services can dial 911 during an emergency. A Senate companion bill, S. 428, was previously approved by the Senate Commerce Committee last year and by the full Senate on February 26, 2008.  The new compromise legislation, H.R. 3403, now moves to the House of Representatives where it awaits consideration and is expected to be approved.

 

 

A key provision authored by Senator Stevens addresses future Internet Protocol (IP)-based 911 networks. Fifty percent of American political subdivisions (counties, boroughs, parishes), often in rural America, do not have enhanced 911 capabilities.  To ensure that all communities may take advantage of the next generation 911 network, the provision requires a study to identify mechanisms and timetables for developing next generation 911 capabilities. The study of the next generation network would also be required to incorporate altitude information and identify technical solutions to address multi-story buildings where identifying the building address is not enough. 

 

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A copy of the legislation is attached.