Gordon's 911 Public Safety Bill Becomes Law
July 23, 2008, WASHINGTON – President Bush signed U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon's legislation to modernize the nation's 911 system and ensure it can process emergency calls made by consumers using Internet phone services and other new technologies.
The president signed the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008 into law today (June 23). The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate approved the bill in June.
"Consumers should not have to compromise their safety when they use Internet phone services, vehicle-based 911 services and other new technologies," said Gordon. "People with disabilities who rely on video and text services also should have access to a reliable 911 network."
"This new law is a victory for public safety. Americans expect their 911 calls to go through when a life-threatening emergency occurs, and my legislation will help ensure those calls for help are answered."
The need for legislation came to Gordon's attention when 911 call center workers from Tennessee told the congressman they were receiving emergency calls from other parts of the country. The problem left Tennessee's 911 workers rushing to reach emergency workers in oother states where the 911 networks were not as reliable as Tennessee's network.
The new law will shore up the nation's 911 networks by giving Voice Over Internet Protocol, or VOIP, phone service providers direct access to the 911 system at the same rates, terms and conditions, as wireless phone providers. It authorizes VOIP service providers to provide customer location information to public safety answering points during emergencies.
It extends existing state laws protecting 911 calls made using wireline and wireless phones to VOIP 911 calls, any services obligated by the Federal Communications Commission to provide 911 in the future and any services that coordinate local 911 authorities and voluntary 911 emergency services.
Gordon's legislation also seeks to modernize the nation's 911 system by requiring the National 911 Coordination Office to establish a national plan to move to an IP-based emergency response network and allowing 911 PSAP grants to be used for IP-based equipment.
"In some of our most recent national emergencies, such as the September 11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina, calls for help overwhelmed the 911 system," said Gordon. "Our current system relies on outdated technology that is 30 years old. It needs an update so the system is equipped to handle high call volumes that can follow large-scale emergencies."
