U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation

For Immediate Release
July 23rd, 2008

PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS BIPARTISAN VOIP/PUBLIC SAFETY BILL INTO LAW
Measure Includes Provisions Sponsored by Senator Stevens to Improve E911 Technology and Save More Lives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President George W. Bush today signed into law H.R. 3403, the New and Emerging

Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008, which contains key provisions authored by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine). This new law makes certain that Americans using Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services can dial 911 during an emergency. The measure will update 911 laws and ensure that emergency calls made over Internet Protocol technologies have the same access, obligations and protections as other 911 technologies. Previously, 911 calls placed over VoIP networks were not always able to connect to the necessary 911 infrastructure. It will also ensure that future 911 networks account for the challenges of serving rural America.

The original Senate bill, S. 428, was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee last year and by the full Senate on February 26, 2008.

“I am pleased to see President Bush sign this important legislation into law,” said Senator Stevens. “This will help emergency responders save more lives by ensuring that our nation’s 911 laws are up-to-date with new technologies.”

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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PHOTO CAPTION: Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is joined by Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, Senator Hillary Clinton (D- N.Y.), Rep. John Shimkus, (R-Ill.), and Rep. Bart Gordon, (D-Tenn.) as President George W. Bush signs the Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008 into law.

Photo credit – White House - Joyce N. Boghosian

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For Immediate Release July 23rd, 2008

PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS BIPARTISAN VOIP/PUBLIC SAFETY BILL INTO LAW Measure Includes Provisions Sponsored by Senator Stevens to Improve E911 Technology and Save More Lives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President George W. Bush today signed into law H.R. 3403, the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008, which contains key provisions authored by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine). This new law makes certain that Americans using Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services can dial 911 during an emergency. The measure will update 911 laws and ensure that emergency calls made over Internet Protocol technologies have the same access, obligations and protections as other 911 technologies. Previously, 911 calls placed over VoIP networks were not always able to connect to the necessary 911 infrastructure. It will also ensure that future 911 networks account for the challenges of serving rural America. The original Senate bill, S. 428, was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee last year and by the full Senate on February 26, 2008. “I am pleased to see President Bush sign this important legislation into law,” said Senator Stevens. “This will help emergency responders save more lives by ensuring that our nation’s 911 laws are up-to-date with new technologies.” 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. # # # PHOTO CAPTION: Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is joined by Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, Senator Hillary Clinton (D- N.Y.), Rep. John Shimkus, (R-Ill.), and Rep. Bart Gordon, (D-Tenn.) as President George W. Bush signs the Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008 into law. Photo credit – White House - Joyce N. Boghosian