United States 115th Congress Status: Passed Senate 1 D cosponsors

S 102 — Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2017

Last action — Held at the desk.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on April 5, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the voluntary policies outlined in the Wireless Network Resiliency Cooperative Framework should be adhered to by all parties to aid consumers, 9-1-1 professionals, first responders, and local governments in accessing communication services during times of emergency. The framework is a voluntary initiative announced by wireless providers and the CTIA after receiving recommendations from government-private sector partnerships including the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council and the CTIA's Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Certification Program. (Sec. 3) The bill requires the FCC to publish a study on the public safety benefits, technical feasibility, and cost of providing the public with emergency access to 9-1-1 services, when mobile service is unavailable during certain presidentially declared emergencies or major disasters or during gubernatorially declared emergencies, 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 Government Accountability Office must report on: (1) how executive departments can better ensure that essential communications services remain operational during emergencies, (2) any legislative matters Congress could consider to help promote the resiliency of essential communications services, and (3) whether a nationwide directory of points of contact among providers of essential communications services is needed to facilitate the rapid restoration of such services damaged during times of emergency. The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act is amended to expand the categories of essential communications 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. 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 allowing access to essential service providers for establishing temporary, or restoring, communications services.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

6 added · 148 removed

Plain-language change summary

The bill S 102 has had lines removed that include the short title of the act, a sense of Congress regarding voluntary policies for network resiliency during disasters, and definitions relevant to securing access to networks in emergencies. The removal of these sections means that the revised version does not include the specific proposals and sentiments expressed in the earlier draft, which could affect the focus or scope of the legislation.

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Latest
102 Reported in Senate (RS)] <DOC> Calendar No.
102 Engrossed in Senate (ES)] <DOC> 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
31 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
102 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To direct the Federal Communications Commission to commence proceedings related to the resiliency of critical communications networks during times of emergency, and for other purposes.
102 [Report No.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1.
115-24] To direct the Federal Communications Commission to commence proceedings related to the resiliency of critical communications networks during times of emergency, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 11, 2017 Ms.
Cantwell (for herself, Mr.
Booker, Mr.
Thune, Mr.
Rubio, Mr.
Nelson, and Mr.
Menendez) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation April 5 (legislative day, April 4), 2017 Reported by Mr.
Thune, with an amendment [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To direct the Federal Communications Commission to commence proceedings related to the resiliency of critical communications networks during times of emergency, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, <DELETED>SECTION 1.
SHORT TITLE.</DELETED> <DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2017''.</DELETED> <DELETED>SEC.
2.
SENSE OF CONGRESS.</DELETED> <DELETED> It is the sense of Congress that the voluntary policies outlined in the Wireless Network Resiliency Cooperative Framework should be adhered to by all parties to aid consumers, 9-1-1 professionals, first responders, and local governments, in accessing communication services during times of emergency.</DELETED> <DELETED>SEC.
3.
SECURING ACCESS TO NETWORKS IN DISASTERS.</DELETED> <DELETED> (a) Definitions.--In this section--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) the term ``Commission'' means the Federal Communications Commission;</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) the term ``mobile service'' means--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) commercial mobile service (as defined in section 332 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
332));
or</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) commercial mobile data service (as defined in section 6001 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C.
1401));</DELETED> <DELETED> (3) the term ``times of emergency'' means-- </DELETED> <DELETED> (A) an emergency or major disaster, as those terms are defined in section 102 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5122);
or</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) an emergency as declared by the Governor of a State or territory of the United States;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (4) the term ``WiFi access points'' means wireless Internet access using the standard designated as 802.11 or any variant thereof.</DELETED> <DELETED> (b) FCC Study on Alternative Access to 9-1-1 Services During Times of Emergency.--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) Study.--Not later than 36 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress, and make publicly available on the website of the Commission, a study on the public safety benefits and technical feasibility and cost of--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) making telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points, and other telecommunications service provider-owned communications technologies operating on unlicensed spectrum, available to the general public for access to 9-1-1 services, without requiring any login credentials, during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable;</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) the provision by non- telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points of public access to 9-1-1 services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (C) other alternative means of providing the public with access to 9-1-1 services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable.</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) Considerations.--In conducting the study required under paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider issues related to making WiFi access points available to the general public for access to 9-1-1 services, including communications network provider liability, the operational security of communications networks, and any existing actions or authorities in and among the States.</DELETED> <DELETED> (c) Directory.--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall create a master point of contact directory to provide for effective communication between public safety answering points and telecommunications service providers.</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) Confidentiality.--The directory established under this subsection shall be available to telecommunications service providers and public safety answering points on a confidential basis.</DELETED> <DELETED> (3) Exemption from paperwork reduction act requirements.--In establishing the directory under this subsection, the Commission shall be exempted from chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Paperwork Reduction Act'').</DELETED> <DELETED> (d) GAO Study and Report.--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) Definitions.--In this subsection--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) the term ``essential communications services'' means wireline and mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio and television broadcasting, cable service, and direct broadcast satellite service;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) the term ``Executive departments'' has the meaning given the term in section 101 of title 5, United States Code.</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) how Executive departments can better ensure essential communications services remain operational during times of emergency;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) any legislative matters, if appropriate, Congress could consider to help promote the resiliency of essential communications services.</DELETED> <DELETED> (3) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall transmit a report to Congress containing the findings and recommendations of the study required under paragraph (2).</DELETED> <DELETED> (e) Expanding List of Essential Service Providers During Federally Declared Emergencies To Include All Communications Providers;
Providing Access to Essential Service Providers.--Section 427 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5189e) is amended--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking ``telecommunications service'' and inserting ``wireline or mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio or television broadcasting, cable service, or direct broadcast satellite service'';
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(d) Mutual Aid Agreements.--The President, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall encourage the adoption of mutual aid agreements that recognize the credentials of essential service providers issued by all parties to the mutual aid agreement.''.</DELETED> <DELETED> (f) Communications Networks Are Designated Essential Assistance During Federally Declared Emergencies.--Section 403(a)(3) of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5170b(a)(3)) is amended--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' at the end;</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``;
and'';
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (3) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(K) allowing for access to essential service providers necessary for establishing temporary or restoring wireline or mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio or television broadcasting, cable service, or direct broadcast satellite service.''.</DELETED> SECTION 1.
Calendar No.
Passed the Senate September 11, 2017.
31 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
Attest:
102 [Report No.
Secretary.
Show all 42 changed rows (2 more)
Previous
Latest
115-24] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To direct the Federal Communications Commission to commence proceedings related to the resiliency of critical communications networks during times of emergency, and for other purposes.
115th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
_______________________________________________________________________ April 5 (legislative day, April 4), 2017 Reported with an amendment
102 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To direct the Federal Communications Commission to commence proceedings related to the resiliency of critical communications networks during times of emergency, and for other purposes.
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How this bill changes current law

5 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill expands the definition of essential service providers and ensures access to critical communications services during emergencies.

  • 42 U.S.C. 5189e

    telecommunications service → wireline or mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio or television broadcasting, cable service, or direct broadcast satellite service

    Broadens the types of essential communications services recognized during emergencies.

  • 42 U.S.C. 5189e

    ``(d) Mutual Aid Agreements.--The President, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall encourage the adoption of mutual aid agreements that recognize the credentials of essential service providers issued by all parties to the mutual aid agreement.''

    Establishes a framework for mutual aid agreements among essential service providers during emergencies.

  • 42 U.S.C. 5170b(a)(3)

    and

    Indicates that access for essential service providers is included in emergency assistance considerations.

  • 42 U.S.C. 5170b(a)(3)

    the period at the end → by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''

    Prepares for the addition of further provisions related to essential services.

  • 42 U.S.C. 5170b(a)(3)

    ``(K) allowing for access to essential service providers necessary for establishing temporary or restoring wireline or mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio or television broadcasting, cable service, or direct broadcast satellite service.''

    Specifies the necessity for access to essential service providers during disaster recovery.

Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

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

  4. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-24.

  5. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-24.

  6. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 31.

  7. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5169-5170)

  8. Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5169-5170)

  9. Received in the House.

  10. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  11. Held at the desk.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 546 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety technology
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does S 102 do?
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on April 5, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the voluntary policies outlined in the Wireless Network Resiliency Cooperative Framework should be adhered to by all parties to aid consumers, 9-1-1 professionals, first responders, and local governments in accessing communication services during times of emergency. The framework is a voluntary initiative announced by wireless providers and the CTIA after receiving recommendations from government-private sector partnerships including the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council and the CTIA's Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Certification Program. (Sec. 3) The bill requires the FCC to publish a study on the public safety benefits, technical feasibility, and cost of providing the public with emergency access to 9-1-1 services, when mobile service is unavailable during certain presidentially declared emergencies or major disasters or during gubernatorially declared emergencies, 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 Government Accountability Office must report on: (1) how executive departments can better ensure that essential communications services remain operational during emergencies, (2) any legislative matters Congress could consider to help promote the resiliency of essential communications services, and (3) whether a nationwide directory of points of contact among providers of essential communications services is needed to facilitate the rapid restoration of such services damaged during times of emergency. The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act is amended to expand the categories of essential communications 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. 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 allowing access to essential service providers for establishing temporary, or restoring, communications services.
Who sponsors S 102?
S 102 is sponsored by Cantwell, Maria (Democratic).
What is the current status of S 102?
This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track S 102?
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