VoIP E-911 Bill May Pass Congress Soon, Aides Say
House and Senate versions of a VoIP E-911 bill that would help carriers ensure subscribers get the emergency service probably will be reconciled, Hill aides told an E-911 Institute panel Tuesday. Differences between House (HR-3403) and Senate (S-428) measures are minor and action is likely “soon,” said Mark Seifert, aide to the House Commerce Committee. The differences between the two bills probably can be resolved, said Jessica Rosenworcel, aide to the Senate Commerce Committee.
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The legislation would build on steps that the FCC has taken to improve E-911 services provided by the VoIP industry. Providers would be given the same liability protection that the wireless industry has. Grants could be used to move to an IP network, a crucial provision, because it would eliminate the need to go back to Congress each time a new 911 communications technology emerges, aides and industry officials said.
Congress also is likely to appropriate funds for an interoperability grant program for fiscal 2009, said Todd Stein, Senate Homeland Security Committee Counsel. President Bush eliminated money for the program in the proposed fiscal 2009 budget, worrying public-safety advocates. Congress last year voted on a $43.5 million appropriation for the program to help public-safety groups with interoperability efforts. “I expect a similar battle as last year,” Stein said, referring to the conflict between Congress’ desire for more money and the administration’s opposition. An E-911 Institute spokesman called the funding critical and urged public safety to lobby members this week on the issue.
On the plus side, there has been a “tremendous amount of success” with interoperability efforts, said E-911 Institute Executive Director Greg Rohde. “I'm disappointed” the grant program didn’t get funded, he said, but he expressed similar confidence that Congress would be able to find the money. He urged the public safety community to prioritize its needs when asking Congress for money.
States are in the final stages of completing their interoperability plans that assess the state of emergency communications within their borders. A report is expected soon, the panelists said. The plans are designed to target problems that state and local governments must solve. Besides managing the production of the statewide programs, the federal government also could play a “strong role” in harmonizing technical standards for emergency communications, said Dana Lichtenberg, aide to Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., who has worked extensively on the E-911 issue. Common technical standards can help avoid costly mistakes, such as fire or police departments buying equipment that doesn’t work with systems. Seifert expressed confidence that technical difficulties could be resolved.
Lack of funding plagues the 911 system, according to a report to be released Wednesday. “Public policymakers must develop a plan to protect and augment 911 funding sources to ensure that 911 can continue to fulfill its critical mission of saving lives,” said Dale Hatfield, who wrote the report. It said state policymakers are reluctant to accept and act on the need to improve 911 capabilities.