[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
[October 26, 1999]
[Pages 1885-1886]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Signing the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act 
of 1999
October 26, 1999

    Today I am pleased to sign into law the Wireless Communications and 
Public Safety Act of 1999. By making it easier to use wireless phones to 
report emergencies, this bill could save thousands of lives every year.
    Nearly 100,000 times each day, someone uses a wireless phone to make 
an emergency call. People with wireless phones can speed the delivery of 
public safety services by providing rapid reports of car crashes, 
incidents of aggressive or drunk driving, serious crimes, and natural 
disasters. Getting rapid care to someone who is suffering from a heart 
attack or is involved in a car crash can mean the difference between 
life and death.

[[Page 1886]]

    The legislation I am signing today will improve emergency wireless 
communications in several ways. First, it will make 9-1-1 the universal 
emergency telephone number for wireless and ``wireline'' telephones 
across the United States. Currently, there are 20 different emergency 
wireless numbers in different States. Second, it will encourage 
statewide coordination of the efforts of public safety and law 
enforcement officials to protect our citizens and save lives. Finally, 
it will increase private sector investment in emergency wireless 
services by providing wireless companies with the same level of 
liability protection that ``wireline'' telecommunications companies 
have.
    I want to thank Members of Congress, the wireless industry, public 
safety officials, and medical professionals who worked together to pass 
this important legislation.

Note: S. 800, approved October 26, was assigned Public Law No. 106-81.