Legis Daily

Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act

USA115th CongressHR-588| House 
| Updated: 1/24/2017
Frank Pallone

Frank Pallone

Democratic Representative

New Jersey

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee, Energy and Commerce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act (Sec. 2) This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to submit to Congress and publish on the FCC website 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. (Sec. 3) The Stafford Act is amended to expand the categories of 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. Services to be considered essential are wireline or mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio or television broadcasting, cable service, or direct broadcast satellite service.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

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Timeline
Jan 17, 2017
Introduced in House
Jan 17, 2017
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 18, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
Jan 23, 2017
Mr. Davis, Rodney moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Jan 23, 2017
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H579-581)
Jan 23, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 588.
Jan 23, 2017
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text of measure as passed: CR H579)
Jan 23, 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text of measure as passed: CR H579)
Jan 23, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jan 24, 2017
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sep 13, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 115-102
Held at the desk.
  • January 17, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • January 17, 2017
    Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • January 18, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.


  • January 23, 2017
    Mr. Davis, Rodney moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • January 23, 2017
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H579-581)


  • January 23, 2017
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 588.


  • January 23, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text of measure as passed: CR H579)


  • January 23, 2017
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text of measure as passed: CR H579)


  • January 23, 2017
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • January 24, 2017
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • September 13, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 115-102
    Held at the desk.

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • S 115-102: Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2017
  • HR 115-4986: RAY BAUM'S Act of 2018
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCongressional oversightDisaster relief and insuranceEmergency communications systemsFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Government studies and investigationsInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaTelephone and wireless communication

Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act

USA115th CongressHR-588| House 
| Updated: 1/24/2017
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act (Sec. 2) This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to submit to Congress and publish on the FCC website 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. (Sec. 3) The Stafford Act is amended to expand the categories of 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. Services to be considered essential are wireline or mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio or television broadcasting, cable service, or direct broadcast satellite service.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jan 17, 2017
Introduced in House
Jan 17, 2017
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 18, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
Jan 23, 2017
Mr. Davis, Rodney moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Jan 23, 2017
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H579-581)
Jan 23, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 588.
Jan 23, 2017
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text of measure as passed: CR H579)
Jan 23, 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text of measure as passed: CR H579)
Jan 23, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jan 24, 2017
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sep 13, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 115-102
Held at the desk.
  • January 17, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • January 17, 2017
    Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • January 18, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.


  • January 23, 2017
    Mr. Davis, Rodney moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • January 23, 2017
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H579-581)


  • January 23, 2017
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 588.


  • January 23, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text of measure as passed: CR H579)


  • January 23, 2017
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text of measure as passed: CR H579)


  • January 23, 2017
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • January 24, 2017
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • September 13, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 115-102
    Held at the desk.
Frank Pallone

Frank Pallone

Democratic Representative

New Jersey

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee, Energy and Commerce Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • S 115-102: Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2017
  • HR 115-4986: RAY BAUM'S Act of 2018
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCongressional oversightDisaster relief and insuranceEmergency communications systemsFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Government studies and investigationsInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaTelephone and wireless communication