Bill Sponsor
Senate Bill 102
115th Congress(2017-2018)
Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2017
Active
Active
Passed Senate on Sep 11, 2017
Overview
Text
Introduced
Jan 11, 2017
Latest Action
Sep 12, 2017
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
102
Congress
115
Policy Area
Science, Technology, Communications
Science, Technology, Communications
Primary focus of measure is natural sciences, space exploration, research policy and funding, research and development, STEM education, scientific cooperation and communication; technology policies, telecommunication, information technology; digital media, journalism. Measures concerning scientific education may fall under Education policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
Washington
Democrat
New Jersey
Democrat
New Jersey
Republican
South Dakota
Senate Votes (1)
House Votes (0)
checkPassed on September 11, 2017
Status
Passed
Type
Unanimous Consent
Unanimous Consent
A senator may request unanimous consent on the floor to set aside a specified rule of procedure so as to expedite proceedings. If no Senator objects, the Senate permits the action, but if any one senator objects, the request is rejected. Unanimous consent requests with only immediate effects are routinely granted, but ones affecting the floor schedule, the conditions of considering a bill or other business, or the rights of other senators, are normally not offered, or a floor leader will object to it, until all senators concerned have had an opportunity to inform the leaders that they find it acceptable.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5169-5170)
Summary

Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2017

This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (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 FCC must create a master point of contact directory for effective communications between public safety answering points and telecommunications service providers.

The Government Accountability Office must report on how executive departments can better ensure that essential communications services remain operational during emergencies.

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.

Text (3)
September 11, 2017
April 5, 2017
January 11, 2017
Actions (10)
09/12/2017
Held at the desk.
09/12/2017
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
09/12/2017
Received in the House.
09/11/2017
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5169-5170)
09/11/2017
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5169-5170)
04/05/2017
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 31.
04/05/2017
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.
01/24/2017
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
01/11/2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
01/11/2017
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:34:09 PM