I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3654 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 13, 2011 Ms. Hochul introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To adopt technology allowing 9–1–1 call centers to receive and respond to emergency text messages, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Allowing Local Emergency Response Technicians to Accept Cellular Texts Act or the ALERT ACT.
2.
9–1–1 text error message
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall complete a rulemaking requiring that if a consumer unsuccessfully attempts to communicate with a public safety answering point by sending a text message to 9–1–1 using a commercial mobile service, the provider of the commercial mobile service will respond to such consumer with an error message to ensure that the consumer knows that the text message has not been received by the public safety answering point and to instruct the consumer on proper steps to take to reach emergency assistance.
3.
Advancing 9–1–1 technology
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that at least 10 percent of the Federal funds awarded after the date of the enactment of this Act for emergency management performance grants shall be used to test or implement equipment or services allowing members of the public to send text messages to 9–1–1 for the purpose of obtaining emergency assistance.
4.
Definitions
In this Act: (1)
Commercial mobile service
The term commercial mobile service has the meaning given such term in section 332 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332). (2)
Emergency management performance grants
The term emergency management performance grants refers to the grants authorized by section 662 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 762). (3)
Public safety answering point
The term public safety answering point has the meaning given such term in section 222 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 222).