Allowing Local Emergency Response Technicians to Accept Cellular Texts Act or the ALERT ACT - Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to complete a rulemaking requiring that if a consumer unsuccessfully attempts to communicate with a public safety answering point by sending a text message to 9-1-1 using a commercial mobile service, the provider of such service will respond with an error message to ensure that the consumer knows that the message has not been received by the answering point and to instruct the consumer on proper steps to reach emergency assistance.
Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that at least 10% of the federal funds awarded after enactment of this Act for emergency management performance grants authorized by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 be used to test or implement equipment or services allowing members of the public to send 9-1-1 text messages to obtain emergency assistance.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3654 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3654
To adopt technology allowing 9-1-1 call centers to receive and respond
to emergency text messages, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 13, 2011
Ms. Hochul introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To adopt technology allowing 9-1-1 call centers to receive and respond
to emergency text messages, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Allowing Local Emergency Response
Technicians to Accept Cellular Texts Act'' or the ``ALERT ACT''.
SEC. 2. 9-1-1 TEXT ERROR MESSAGE.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Federal Communications Commission, in coordination with the
Secretary of Homeland Security, shall complete a rulemaking requiring
that if a consumer unsuccessfully attempts to communicate with a public
safety answering point by sending a text message to 9-1-1 using a
commercial mobile service, the provider of the commercial mobile
service will respond to such consumer with an error message to ensure
that the consumer knows that the text message has not been received by
the public safety answering point and to instruct the consumer on
proper steps to take to reach emergency assistance.
SEC. 3. ADVANCING 9-1-1 TECHNOLOGY.
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that at least 10
percent of the Federal funds awarded after the date of the enactment of
this Act for emergency management performance grants shall be used to
test or implement equipment or services allowing members of the public
to send text messages to 9-1-1 for the purpose of obtaining emergency
assistance.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Commercial mobile service.--The term ``commercial
mobile service'' has the meaning given such term in section 332
of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332).
(2) Emergency management performance grants.--The term
``emergency management performance grants'' refers to the
grants authorized by section 662 of the Post-Katrina Emergency
Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 762).
(3) Public safety answering point.--The term ``public
safety answering point'' has the meaning given such term in
section 222 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 222).
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Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
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