[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 122, 110th Congress, 2nd Session] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov] 122 STAT. 2620 Public Law 110-283 110th Congress An Act To promote and enhance public safety by facilitating the rapid deployment of IP-enabled 911 and E-911 services, encourage the Nation's transition to a national IP-enabled emergency network, and improve 911 and E-911 access to those with disabilities. [NOTE: July 23, 2008 - [H.R. 3403]] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress [NOTE: New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008. 47 USC 609 note.] assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008'' or the ``NET 911 Improvement Act of 2008''. TITLE I--911 SERVICES AND IP-ENABLED VOICE SERVICE PROVIDERS SEC. 101. DUTY TO PROVIDE 911 AND ENHANCED 911 SERVICE. The Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999 is amended-- (1) by redesignating section 6 (47 U.S.C. 615b) as section 7; (2) by inserting after section 5 the following new section: ``SEC. 6. [NOTE: 47 USC 615a-1.] DUTY TO PROVIDE 9-1-1 AND ENHANCED 9-1-1 SERVICE. ``(a) Duties.--It shall be the duty of each IP-enabled voice service provider to provide 9-1-1 service and enhanced 9-1-1 service to its subscribers in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Communications Commission, as in effect on the date of enactment of the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008 and as such requirements may be modified by the Commission from time to time. ``(b) Parity for IP-Enabled Voice Service Providers.--An IP-enabled voice service provider that seeks capabilities to provide 9-1-1 and enhanced 9-1-1 service from an entity with ownership or control over such capabilities, to comply with its obligations under subsection (a), shall, for the exclusive purpose of complying with such obligations, have a right of access to such capabilities, including interconnection, to provide 9-1-1 and enhanced 9-1-1 service on the same rates, terms, and conditions that are provided to a provider of commercial mobile service (as such term is defined in section 332(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332(d))), subject to such regulations as the Commission prescribes under subsection (c). ``(c) Regulations.--The Commission-- [[Page 2621]] 122 STAT. 2621 ``(1) [NOTE: Deadline.] within 90 days after the date of enactment of the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008, shall issue regulations implementing such Act, including regulations that-- ``(A) ensure that IP-enabled voice service providers have the ability to exercise their rights under subsection (b); ``(B) take into account any technical, network security, or information privacy requirements that are specific to IP-enabled voice services; and ``(C) provide, with respect to any capabilities that are not required to be made available to a commercial mobile service provider but that the Commission determines under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph or paragraph (2) are necessary for an IP-enabled voice service provider to comply with its obligations under subsection (a), that such capabilities shall be available at the same rates, terms, and conditions as would apply if such capabilities were made available to a commercial mobile service provider; ``(2) [NOTE: Registration.] shall require IP-enabled voice service providers to which the regulations apply to register with the Commission and to establish a point of contact for public safety and government officials relative to 9-1-1 and enhanced 9-1-1 service and access; and ``(3) may modify such regulations from time to time, as necessitated by changes in the market or technology, to ensure the ability of an IP-enabled voice service provider to comply with its obligations under subsection (a) and to exercise its rights under subsection (b). ``(d) Delegation of Enforcement to State Commissions.--The Commission may delegate authority to enforce the regulations issued under subsection (c) to State commissions or other State or local agencies or programs with jurisdiction over emergency communications. Nothing in this section is intended to alter the authority of State commissions or other State or local agencies with jurisdiction over emergency communications, provided that the exercise of such authority is not inconsistent with Federal law or Commission requirements. ``(e) Implementation.-- ``(1) Limitation.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the Commission to issue regulations that require or impose a specific technology or technological standard. ``(2) Enforcement.--The Commission shall enforce this section as if this section was a part of the Communications Act of 1934. For purposes of this section, any violations of this section, or any regulations promulgated under this section, shall be considered to be a violation of the Communications Act of 1934 or a regulation promulgated under that Act, respectively. ``(f) State Authority Over Fees.-- ``(1) Authority.--Nothing in this Act, the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.), the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008, or any Commission regulation or order shall prevent the imposition and collection of a fee or charge applicable to commercial mobile services or IP-enabled voice services specifically designated by a State, political subdivision thereof, Indian tribe, or village or regional [[Page 2622]] 122 STAT. 2622 corporation serving a region established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, as amended (85 Stat. 688) for the support or implementation of 9-1-1 or enhanced 9-1-1 services, provided that the fee or charge is obligated or expended only in support of 9-1-1 and enhanced 9-1-1 services, or enhancements of such services, as specified in the provision of State or local law adopting the fee or charge. For each class of subscribers to IP-enabled voice services, the fee or charge may not exceed the amount of any such fee or charge applicable to the same class of subscribers to telecommunications services. ``(2) Fee accountability report.--To ensure efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the collection and expenditure of a fee or charge for the support or implementation of 9-1-1 or enhanced 9-1-1 services, the Commission shall submit a report within 1 year after the date of enactment of the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008, and annually thereafter, to the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives detailing the status in each State of the collection and distribution of such fees or charges, and including findings on the amount of revenues obligated or expended by each State or political subdivision thereof for any purpose other than the purpose for which any such fees or charges are specified. ``(g) Availability of PSAP Information.--The Commission may compile a list of public safety answering point contact information, contact information for providers of selective routers, testing procedures, classes and types of services supported by public safety answering points, and other information concerning 9-1-1 and enhanced 9-1-1 elements, for the purpose of assisting IP-enabled voice service providers in complying with this section, and may make any portion of such information available to telecommunications carriers, wireless carriers, IP-enabled voice service providers, other emergency service providers, or the vendors to or agents of any such carriers or providers, if such availability would improve public safety. ``(h) [NOTE: Procedures.] Development of standards.--The Commission shall work cooperatively with public safety organizations, industry participants, and the E-911 Implementation Coordination Office to develop best practices that promote consistency, where appropriate, including procedures for-- ``(1) defining geographic coverage areas for public safety answering points; ``(2) defining network diversity requirements for delivery of IP-enabled 9-1-1 and enhanced 9-1-1 calls; ``(3) call-handling in the event of call overflow or network outages; ``(4) public safety answering point certification and testing requirements; ``(5) validation procedures for inputting and updating location information in relevant databases; and ``(6) the format for delivering address information to public safety answering points. [[Page 2623]] 122 STAT. 2623 ``(i) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008 shall be construed as altering, delaying, or otherwise limiting the ability of the Commission to enforce the Federal actions taken or rules adopted obligating an IP-enabled voice service provider to provide 9-1-1 or enhanced 9-1-1 service as of the date of enactment of the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008.''; and (3) in section 7 (as redesignated by paragraph (1) of this section) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(8) IP-enabled voice service.--The term `IP-enabled voice service' has the meaning given the term `interconnected VoIP service' by section 9.3 of the Federal Communications Commission's regulations (47 CFR 9.3).''. SEC. 102. MIGRATION TO IP-ENABLED EMERGENCY NETWORK. Section 158 of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 942) is amended-- (1) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting before the period at the end the following: ``and for migration to an IP-enabled emergency network''; (2) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and (3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection: ``(d) Migration Plan Required.-- ``(1) National plan required.-- No [NOTE: Deadline. Reports.] more than 270 days after the date of enactment of the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008, the Office shall develop and report to Congress on a national plan for migrating to a national IP- enabled emergency network capable of receiving and responding to all citizen-activated emergency communications and improving information sharing among all emergency response entities. ``(2) Contents of plan.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall-- ``(A) outline the potential benefits of such a migration; ``(B) identify barriers that must be overcome and funding mechanisms to address those barriers; ``(C) provide specific mechanisms for ensuring the IP-enabled emergency network is available in every community and is coordinated on a local, regional, and statewide basis; ``(D) identify location technology for nomadic devices and for office buildings and multi-dwelling units; ``(E) include a proposed timetable, an outline of costs, and potential savings; ``(F) provide specific legislative language, if necessary, for achieving the plan; ``(G) provide recommendations on any legislative changes, including updating definitions, that are necessary to facilitate a national IP-enabled emergency network; ``(H) assess, collect, and analyze the experiences of the public safety answering points and related public safety authorities who are conducting trial deployments of IP-enabled emergency networks as of the date of enactment [[Page 2624]] 122 STAT. 2624 of the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008; ``(I) identify solutions for providing 9-1-1 and enhanced 9-1-1 access to those with disabilities and needed steps to implement such solutions, including a recommended timeline; and ``(J) analyze efforts to provide automatic location for enhanced 9-1-1 services and provide recommendations on regulatory or legislative changes that are necessary to achieve automatic location for enhanced 9-1-1 services. ``(3) Consultation.--In developing the plan required by paragraph (1), the Office shall consult with representatives of the public safety community, groups representing those with disabilities, technology and telecommunications providers, IP- enabled voice service providers, Telecommunications Relay Service providers, and other emergency communications providers and others it deems appropriate.''. TITLE II--PARITY OF PROTECTION SEC. 201. LIABILITY. (a) Amendments.--Section 4 of the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999 (47 U.S.C. 615a) is amended-- (1) by striking ``parity of protection for provision or use of wireless service.'' in the section heading and inserting ``service provider parity of protection.''; (2) in subsection (a)-- (A) by striking ``wireless carrier,'' and inserting ``wireless carrier, IP-enabled voice service provider, or other emergency communications provider,''; (B) by striking ``its officers'' the first place it appears and inserting ``their officers''; (C) by striking ``emergency calls or emergency services'' and inserting ``emergency calls, emergency services, or other emergency communications services''; (3) in subsection (b)-- (A) by striking ``using wireless 9-1-1 service shall'' and inserting ``using wireless 9-1-1 service, or making 9-1-1 communications via IP-enabled voice service or other emergency communications service, shall''; and (B) by striking ``that is not wireless'' and inserting ``that is not via wireless 9-1-1 service, IP- enabled voice service, or other emergency communications service''; and (4) in subsection (c)-- (A) by striking ``wireless 9-1-1 communications, a PSAP'' and inserting ``9-1-1 communications via wireless 9-1-1 service, IP-enabled voice service, or other emergency communications service, a PSAP''; and (B) by striking ``that are not wireless'' and inserting ``that are not via wireless 9-1-1 service, IP- enabled voice service, or other emergency communications service''. (b) Definition.--Section 7 of the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999 (as redesignated by section 101(1) of this Act) is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: [[Page 2625]] 122 STAT. 2625 ``(8) Other emergency communications service.--The term `other emergency communications service' means the provision of emergency information to a public safety answering point via wire or radio communications, and may include 9-1-1 and enhanced 9-1-1 service. ``(9) Other emergency communications service provider.--The term `other emergency communications service provider' means-- ``(A) an entity other than a local exchange carrier, wireless carrier, or an IP-enabled voice service provider that is required by the Federal Communications Commission consistent with the Commission's authority under the Communications Act of 1934 to provide other emergency communications services; or ``(B) in the absence of a Commission requirement as described in subparagraph (A), an entity that voluntarily elects to provide other emergency communications services and is specifically authorized by the appropriate local or State 9-1-1 service governing authority to provide other emergency communications services. ``(10) Enhanced 9-1-1 service.--The term `enhanced 9-1-1 service' means the delivery of 9-1-1 calls with automatic number identification and automatic location identification, or successor or equivalent information features over the wireline E911 network (as defined in section 9.3 of the Federal Communications Commission's regulations (47 C.F.R. 9.3) as of the date of enactment of the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008) and equivalent or successor networks and technologies. The term also includes any enhanced 9-1-1 service so designated by the Commission in its Report and Order in WC Docket Nos. 04-36 and 05-196, or any successor proceeding.''. TITLE III--AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE CUSTOMER INFORMATION FOR 911 PURPOSES SEC. 301. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE CUSTOMER INFORMATION. Section 222 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 222) is amended-- (1) by inserting ``or the user of an IP-enabled voice service (as such term is defined in section 7 of the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999 (47 U.S.C. 615b))'' after ``section 332(d))'' each place it appears in subsections (d)(4) and (f)(1); (2) by striking ``Wireless'' in the heading of subsection (f); and [[Page 2626]] 122 STAT. 2626 (3) in subsection (g), by inserting ``or a provider of IP- enabled voice service (as such term is defined in section 7 of the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999 (47 U.S.C. 615b))'' after ``telephone exchange service''. Approved July 23, 2008. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 3403: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOUSE REPORTS: No. 110-442 (Comm. on Energy and Commerce). CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: Vol. 153 (2007): Nov. 13, considered and passed House. Vol. 154 (2008): June 16, considered and passed Senate, amended. June 23, House concurred in Senate amendment.