Emergency Reporting Act
Congress Proposes New Rules to Track Cell and Internet Outages During Major Disasters
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill, introduced by Ms. Matsui, requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to hold public meetings after major disasters. These meetings would happen whenever emergency reporting systems are active for at least a week, ensuring the government hears from local residents and first responders about what went wrong.
- The FCC would be required to publish detailed reports on internet and phone outages after these disasters. These reports must show how many people lost service, how long the outages lasted, and specifically if people were unable to reach 9-1-1 operators during the emergency.
- The policy aims to make our communication networks more reliable by requiring the FCC to suggest ways to prevent future outages. By looking at what failed during past storms or fires, the agency can help companies build stronger systems that stay online when people need them most.
- The FCC would also investigate if current rules are missing small but important 9-1-1 outages that never get reported. They will look into whether providing visual maps of outages would help emergency workers respond faster to neighborhoods that are cut off from the world.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
The bill specifically requires the FCC to consider including representatives of Indian tribal governments in public hearings about disaster-related communication outages. This gives tribal communities — which are often in remote areas with limited cell and internet service — a formal voice in discussions about improving network reliability during emergencies.
Disabilities
Broader Impacts
Milestones
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 517.
The bill is now on the schedule for the full chamber to consider. It's in line for debate and a vote.
Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-597.
The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
5 articlesMatsui, Bilirakis Bow 2 Bills on Emergency Communications Resiliency
Rep. Doris Matsui and Rep. Gus Bilirakis reintroduced the Emergency Reporting Act to improve communication network reliability. The bill directs the FCC to issue reports and hold field hearings after activating its disaster reporting system to assess 9-1-1 failures and service disruptions.
Emergency Reporting Act introduced in Congress to Bolster Network Resiliency
Legislation introduced in both houses seeks to improve communications network resiliency. The Emergency Reporting Act would require the FCC to hold public meetings after disasters and publish detailed reports on internet and phone outages, specifically tracking 9-1-1 reachability.
FCC Advances EAS Reform, DIRS Update, Broadcast Rule Repeal
The FCC moved to modernize its Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) as part of a broader agenda to streamline emergency communications. The action aligns with legislative efforts like the Emergency Reporting Act, focusing on improving the utility of outage reports for first responders.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Emergency Reporting Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(2)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.