3.0.0 2997 2023-01-11T13:32:52Z 2023-01-11T13:32:52Z Senate S 2016-05-26 114 sscm00 Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Senate Standing Reported by 2016-12-06T22:18:57Z Markup by 2016-06-29T14:00:00Z Referred to 2016-05-26T15:28:21Z S. Rept. 114-392 Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act 114 3998 HR 2016-05-24 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Related bill CRS Related bill House 2016-12-06 Senate Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 702. Calendars 2016-12-06 sscm00 Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-392. Committee 2016-12-06 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-392. Committee 14000 9 Library of Congress sscm00 Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee 2016-06-29 sscm00 Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. Committee 2016-05-26 sscm00 Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Senate Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3294) IntroReferral 2016-05-26 Introduced in Senate IntroReferral 10000 9 Library of Congress C000127 Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] Maria Cantwell D WA N B001288 Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] Cory Booker D NJ 2016-05-26 True S000148 Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] Charles Schumer D NY E. 2016-05-26 True N000032 Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL] CLARENCE NELSON D FL WILLIAM 2016-06-14 False R000595 Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] Marco Rubio R FL 2016-07-06 False T000250 Sen. Thune, John [R-SD] John Thune R SD R. 2016-09-20 False 2016-07-14T15:47:55Z S. 2997, Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2016 https://www.cbo.gov/publication/51806 As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on June 29, 2016 Science, Technology, Communications Administrative law and regulatory procedures Congressional oversight Disaster relief and insurance Emergency communications systems Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Government studies and investigations Internet and video services Internet, web applications, social media Telephone and wireless communication Science, Technology, Communications 00 2016-05-26 Introduced in Senate 2016-07-20T21:43:49Z Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2016

This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to create a master point of contact directory for effective communications between public safety answering points and telecommunications service providers.

The FCC must submit a study on the public safety benefits, technical feasibility, and cost of providing the public with access to 9-1-1 services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable, through:

  • telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points and other communications technologies operating on unlicensed spectrum, without requiring any login credentials;
  • non-telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points; and
  • other alternative means.

The types of emergencies subject to this bill are: (1) occasions or instances under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for which the President determines that federal assistance is needed to supplement state and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States; or (2) an emergency declared by the governor of a state or U.S. territory.

The Government Accountability Office must report on: (1) how federal agencies can ensure critical telecommunications networks remain operational during emergencies, and (2) whether to add points of contact for local utilities to the master directory.

The Stafford Act is amended to include all categories of communications service providers (currently, only telecommunications service providers) among the essential service providers that may access a disaster site to restore and repair essential services in an emergency or major disaster without being denied or impeded by a federal agency. Communications services include wireline and mobile telephone, Internet, radio and television broadcasting, cable, and direct broadcast satellite services.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must encourage the adoption of mutual aid agreements recognizing the credentials of essential service providers issued by all parties to such an agreement.

At the direction of the President, federal agencies may provide assistance essential to meeting immediate threats to life and property resulting from a major disaster by establishing temporary, or restoring, communications service.

]]> 01 2016-12-06 Reported to Senate with amendment(s) 2017-01-12T19:30:19Z Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill expresses the sense of Congress that voluntary policies outlined in the Wireless Network Resiliency Cooperative Framework should be adhered to by all parties to aid consumers, 9-1-1 professionals, first responders, and local governments in accessing communication services during emergencies.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must publish a study on the public safety benefits, technical feasibility, and cost of providing the public with access to 9-1-1 services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable, through:

  • telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points and other communications technologies operating on unlicensed spectrum, without requiring any login credentials;
  • non-telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points; and
  • other alternative means.

The types of emergencies subject to this bill are: (1) occasions or instances under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for which the President determines that federal assistance is needed to supplement state and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States; or (2) an emergency declared by the governor of a state or U.S. territory.

The FCC's study must consider communications network provider liability, network operational security, and any existing actions or authorities among the states.

The Government Accountability Office must report on: (1) how executive departments can better ensure that essential communications services remain operational during emergencies, and (2) whether a nationwide directory of points of contact among providers of essential communications services is needed to facilitate the rapid restoration of services damaged during emergencies.

The Stafford Act is amended to expand the categories of essential communications service providers that may access a disaster site to restore and repair essential services in an emergency or major disaster without being denied or impeded by a federal agency. Services to be considered essential are wireline or mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio or television broadcasting, cable service, or direct broadcast satellite service.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must encourage the adoption of mutual aid agreements recognizing the credentials of essential service providers issued by all parties to such an agreement.

At the direction of the President, federal agencies may provide assistance essential to meeting immediate threats to life and property resulting from a major disaster by allowing access to essential service providers for establishing temporary, or restoring, communications services.

]]> Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2016 Display Title Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2016 Official Title as Introduced A bill to direct the Federal Communications Commission to commence proceedings related to the resiliency of critical telecommunications networks during times of emergency, and for other purposes. Introduced in Senate IS Short Titles as Introduced Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2016 Short Titles as Reported to Senate Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2016 S Senate Reported to Senate 2016-12-06T05:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-114s2997rs/xml/BILLS-114s2997rs.xml Introduced in Senate 2016-05-26T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-114s2997is/xml/BILLS-114s2997is.xml 2016-12-06 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 702. text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.