WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate approved three bipartisan bills sponsored by U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.). The legislation includes the Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act, Kari’s Law, and The Spoofing Prevention Act. Senator Fischer also championed these measures in the 114th Congress.

“I’m pleased to see these three bipartisan bills pass the Senate. The DIGIT Act would open up lines of communication between the private and public sector to spur innovation. We all know being able to quickly reach 911 in an emergency can save lives; Kari’s Law would ensure families can call for the help they need. Additionally, through the Spoofing Prevention Act, Congress can protect the most vulnerable in our society from fraudulent scams. Each piece of legislation makes important updates to our nation’s telecommunications laws in 21st Century world,” said Senator Fischer.

Below is a brief summary of the Fischer bills passed by the Senate.

The Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act

• Senator Fischer joined Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) to introduce the DIGIT Act, S. 88.
• The DIGIT Act would convene a working group of federal entities that would consult with private sector stakeholders to provide recommendations to Congress.
• These recommendations would focus on how to plan for, and encourage, the growth of the Internet of Things in the United States.
• In facilitating this collaboration, the bill would provide input from private sector experts and prevent potential problems, such as regulatory silos.
• The bill also directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to initiate a proceeding assessing the spectrum needs required to support the Internet of Things.

Kari’s Law

• Senator Deb Fischer and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), along with Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Thune (R-S.D.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), introduced S. 123, The Kari’s Law Act.
• The law is named for Kari Hunt, who was murdered in her hotel room in 2013 after her 9-year-old daughter desperately tried to call 911 for help. The hotel’s service, like many across the country, required dialing “9” before entering 911 in order for the call to go through.
• Kari’s Law would require multiline telephone systems (MLTS), which are commonly used in hotels and offices, to be able to directly dial 911 without an access code, such as “9” or “1.”
• The bill also requires MLTS to be configured to provide a notification to a central location, such as a hotel front desk, if a call is made to 911 within its building.
• It would provide for an exception where the telephone system cannot be configured to notify a central location without upgrades.
• Manufacturers would have two years to update their phone systems and comply with the law.

Spoofing Prevention Act of 2016

• Senator Fischer joined Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to introduce bipartisan legislation known as the Spoofing Prevention Act of 2017, S. 134.
• The bill closes legal loopholes to address the practice of “spoofing”: deliberate falsification of telephone numbers and/or names through Caller-ID.
• Major targets of spoofing often include seniors, veterans, and law enforcement.
• Fischer’s bill prohibits caller ID spoofing on voice calls, including calls made by persons outside of the United States to callers located inside the United States and all calls made using IP-enabled voice services.
• It also prohibits caller ID spoofing on text messages.