[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1703 Introduced in Senate (IS)]



109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1703

   To provide for the development and implementation of an emergency 
                     backup communications system.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 14, 2005

   Mr. Kerry introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To provide for the development and implementation of an emergency 
                     backup communications system.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Communications Security Act of 
2005''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The tragic events of September 11, 2001, placed an 
        enormous strain on the communications network in New York City, 
        New York and Washington, District of Columbia. Officials from 
        both cities struggled to communicate and coordinate among the 
        various emergency response teams dispatched to ``Ground Zero'' 
        and the Pentagon. These events uncovered manifest structural 
        weaknesses in the communications infrastructure of the United 
        States.
            (2) The 9/11 Commission Report states that our Nation 
        remains largely unprepared to communicate effectively in the 
        event of another attack or natural catastrophe.
            (3) The massive communications failures associated with 
        Hurricane Katrina illustrate the continuing inadequacies of our 
        communications systems in times of crisis.
            (4) Despite heroic efforts by public officials and 
        communications industry personnel, the failure of our 
        communications network to persevere in the face of a 
        catastrophic hurricane severely hampered post-storm recovery 
        efforts.
            (5) A comprehensive effort must be undertaken to deal with 
        the communications challenges faced by our Nation, including 
        short-term and long-term steps that can be taken to improve the 
        interoperable communications and emergency response capability 
        within the United States.
            (6) There is an immediate need for the development and 
        deployment of an emergency back-up communications system to 
        enhance the Nation's emergency response capabilities. 
        Deployment of an emergency back-up communications system should 
        be a priority of the United States.
            (7) The deployment of such a system is a critical first 
        step in enhancing the overall communications infrastructure. 
        Other required improvements will need to be made in such areas 
        as training, personnel, equipment, software, and services for 
        local governments, and assistance with capital expenses. 
        Supporting and enhancing ongoing efforts in this regard is an 
        important goal.

SEC. 3. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS BACK-UP SYSTEM.

    (a) Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et 
seq.), as amended by section 4, is further amended by adding at the end 
the following:

``SEC. 317. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS BACK-UP SYSTEM.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of the Communications Security Act of 2005, the Secretary, in 
conjunction with the Federal Communications Commission, shall evaluate 
the technical feasibility of creating a back-up emergency 
communications system that complements existing communications 
resources and takes into account next generation and advanced 
telecommunications technologies. The overriding objective for the 
evaluation shall be providing a framework for the development of a 
resilient interoperable communications system for emergency responders 
in an emergency. In conducting that evaluation, the Secretary shall 
evaluate all reasonable options, including satellites, wireless, and 
terrestrial-based communications systems and other alternative 
transport mechanisms that can be used in tandem with existing 
technologies.
    ``(b) Components.--The back-up system shall include--
            ``(1) reliable means of emergency communications; and
            ``(2) if necessary, handsets, desktop communications 
        devices, or other appropriate devices for each public safety 
        entity.
    ``(c) Factors to Be Evaluated.--The evaluation under subsection (a) 
shall include--
            ``(1) a survey of all Federal agencies that use terrestrial 
        or satellite technology for communications security and an 
        evaluation of the feasibility of using existing systems for 
        purposes creating such an emergency back-up medical facility 
        public safety communications system;
            ``(2) the feasibility of using private satellite, wireless, 
        or terrestrial networks for emergency communications;
            ``(3) the technical options, cost, and deployment methods 
        of software, equipment, handsets or desktop communications 
        devices for public safety entities in major urban areas, and 
        nationwide; and
            ``(4) the feasibility and cost of necessary changes to the 
        network operations center of terrestrial-based or satellite 
        systems to enable the centers to serve as an emergency back-up 
        communications systems.
    ``(d) Report.--Upon the completion of the evaluation under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that 
details the findings of the evaluation, including a full inventory of 
existing public and private resources most efficiently capable of 
providing emergency communications.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
    ``(f) Expedited Funding Option and Implementation Strategy.--If, as 
a result of the evaluation conducted under subsection (a), the 
Secretary determines that the establishment of such a back-up system is 
feasible then the Secretary shall request appropriations for the 
deployment of such a back-up communications system not later than 90 
days after submission of the report under subsection (d).''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002, as amended by section 4, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 316 the following:

``Sec. 317. Emergency communications back-up system.''.
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