[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 539 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 539

  To establish 9-1-1 as the universal emergency assistance number for 
       wireless telecommunications users, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 3, 1999

  Ms. Danner introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish 9-1-1 as the universal emergency assistance number for 
       wireless telecommunications users, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) states and localities have adopted different emergency 
        telephone numbers for cellular telephone users seeking 
        emergency assistance;
            (2) 9-1-1 is used as the emergency assistance number for 
        wire-based telecommunications; and
            (3) almost one-third of the pedestrian deaths on the 
        Interstate Highway System involve stranded motorists who leave 
        their vehicles.

SEC. 2. UNIVERSAL EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER.

    (a) Designation of Universal Assistance Number.--The number 9-1-1 
is designated as the universal wireless emergency telephone number 
within the United States.
    (b) Federal Agency Use of Universal Assistance Number.--Any 
department, agency, officer or instrumentality of the United States, 
State or local government that establishes or operates a wireless 
communications system for use by the public in whole or in part to 
report emergencies shall ensure--
            (1) the system accommodates the number 9-1-1 and;
            (2) uses the number 9-1-1 for the reporting of emergencies 
        by the public.
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