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United States · Bill · S

S. 2997 (114th)

Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2016

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

26 May 2016

Last action

6 December 2016 · Reported

Status

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 702.

Sponsors

Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL], Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL], Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]

Subjects

Healthcare

Source updated

7 April 2025

Healthcare

Summary

Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2016 This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to create a master point of contact directory for effective communications between public safety answering points and telecommunications service providers. The FCC must submit a study on the public safety benefits, technical feasibility, and cost of providing the public with access to 9-1-1 services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable, through: telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points and other communications technologies operating on unlicensed spectrum, without requiring any login credentials; non-telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points; and other alternative means. The types of emergencies subject to this bill are: (1) occasions or instances under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for which the President determines that federal assistance is needed to supplement state and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States; or (2) an emergency declared by the governor of a state or U.S. territory. The Government Accountability Office must report on: (1) how federal agencies can ensure critical telecommunications networks remain operational during emergencies, and (2) whether to add points of contact for local utilities to the master directory. The Stafford Act is amended to include all categories of communications service providers (currently, only telecommunications service providers) among the essential service providers that may access a disaster site to restore and repair essential services in an emergency or major disaster without being denied or impeded by a federal agency. Communications services include wireline and mobile telephone, Internet, radio and television broadcasting, cable, and direct broadcast satellite services. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must encourage the adoption of mutual aid agreements recognizing the credentials of essential service providers issued by all parties to such an agreement. At the direction of the President, federal agencies may provide assistance essential to meeting immediate threats to life and property resulting from a major disaster by establishing temporary, or restoring, communications service.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 26 May 2016

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3294)

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 26 May 2016

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 29 June 2016

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Source: Committee

  4. 6 December 2016

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 702.

    Source: Calendars

  5. 6 December 2016

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-392.

    Source: Committee

  6. 6 December 2016

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-392.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

6 official files

Reported to Senate (text)

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  • Reported to Senate (text)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 6 December 2016

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  • Reported to Senate (PDF)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 6 December 2016

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  • Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

    summary · EN · 6 December 2016

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  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 26 May 2016

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  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 26 May 2016

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 26 May 2016

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Sponsors

Related records

Sources

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