Gordon’s Public Safety Bill Advances In Committee

October 10, 2007, WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon’s legislation to improve public safety by ensuring the reliability of 911 calls made from Internet phone services is progressing through the U.S. House of Representatives.

Today, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet cleared Gordon’s 911 Modernization and Public Safety Act, H.R. 3403, for full committee consideration.

“We expect to receive help when we dial 911, but that help isn’t always there for Internet phone users,” said Gordon, a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. “About 98 million Americans live in areas where Internet phone providers do not have access to the 911 network.

“My bill will ensure all Americans have access to 911 regardless of what kind of phone they use or where they live.”

Gordon’s bill would give Internet phone providers direct access to the 911 system, enabling them to provide full 911 service to their customers. Wireless phone companies received access to the 911 system through similar legislation in the past.

The bill also requires the 911 Implementation and Coordination Office to develop a national plan to quickly move the nation from the current 911 system to an interoperable IP-based emergency response network that can handle voice, video and data traffic.

“With this bill, we have an opportunity to incorporate Internet phones into the nation’s 911 system, improve 911 services for the deaf community and modernize the 911 network for the digital age.

“If we do this right and ensure new technologies can be incorporated into the 911 system, we may avoid access problems again with a new technology in the future.”