[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 45 (Thursday, March 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE ACCESS TO EMERGENCY SERVICES ACT

                                 ______


                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 28, 1996

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Access to 
Emergency Services Act. This legislation would require the FCC to 
establish a framework which would prohibit the blocking of 911 calls 
placed by cellular and wireless users.
  Why is this legislation necessary? In many markets, cellular phone 
users have been put in jeopardy because they are unable to access 
emergency 911 help when they were not subscribed to the local cellular 
company. Fortunately, cellular companies in California no longer block 
emergency 911 calls.
  However, this change in policy did not happen soon enough for a 
California woman who, in December 1994, was shot and robbed because her 
calls to 911 on her cellular phone were blocked by the local cellular 
company.
  The irony is, of course, that many cellular customers purchase 
cellular phones for just these emergency situations. Would they have 
become customers if they realized they might not be able to reach 911 
when necessary?
  The FCC is currently conducting a rulemaking on wireless 911 
services. I hope the FCC will do the right thing, and address this 
issue in its rulemaking.
  I am introducing this legislation because this issue is too important 
to cellular users to leave to chance. We must ensure that no one is 
victimized because he or she was unable to reach 911 on their cellular 
phone.
  These cellular licenses were given to cellular companies in order to 
develop a new service for the American people. As a member of the 
Commerce Committee, I take very seriously my responsibility to ensure 
that the public's airwaves are put to good public use. At the very 
least, cellular users deserve access to local 911 emergency services.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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