[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 8416]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     WIRELESS PHONES AND 911 CALLS

  (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, not long ago, all 911 calls were local 
calls made on wireline phones. Today, it is estimated that nearly 130 
million wireless phones are in use, generating an average of 150,000 
calls to 911 each day. However, few people realize that most wireless 
911 calls do not go to the nearest public safety answering point, do 
not provide the caller's call-back number, nor do they provide the 
caller's location.
  In some areas, wireless callers get an automated voice instead of 
help when they dial 911.
  The House passed legislation earlier this year which I introduced 
with my colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), that 
attempts to solve these problems by enhancing the coordination of E-911 
implementation in each State, discouraging the raiding of E-911 funds, 
and giving local PSAPs additional funding to help them finally achieve 
and enhance 911 capability.
  It is my hope we can get this legislation to the President before the 
end of the year so local communities can begin upgrading their 911 
systems and help first responders locate those in need as quickly as 
possible.

                          ____________________