Rep. Schrier Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Emergency Services
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) and Bill Johnson (R-OH) introduced bipartisan legislation to help bring emergency connectivity service in remote, underserved areas, or in areas experiencing service outages caused by natural disasters or other events in which communications infrastructure is destroyed.
“People living in many remote and rural areas in the 8th District do not have the consistent ability to make emergency 911 calls and receive emergency alerts, making it all but impossible to call for help when you need it the most,” said Rep. Schrier. “Satellites have a unique ability to provide connectivity to many unreachable areas but right now lack the regulatory certainty to provide consumers with reliable access to emergency services. That’s why I’m glad to be introducing the bipartisan ALERT Parity Act to give the FCC the flexibility it needs to keep up with innovation and ensure satellite communications providers have the regulatory certainty to deliver emergency connectivity service in such areas. This effort will save lives in my district and across the country.”
The Advanced, Local Emergency Response Telecommunications (ALERT) Parity Act requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules for satellite communications providers who want to deliver emergency connectivity service in remote and rural areas and those areas where communications infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed. Under the ALERT Parity Act, the FCC will provide satellite communications providers with the necessary certainty to provide consumers with access to emergency services where and when it is otherwise unavailable.
“The ALERT Parity Act would ensure every American, regardless of their zip code, would receive critical emergency alerts and make 911 calls. This lifesaving legislation would enable access to emergency services for areas that would otherwise not receive cellular services – especially in areas like Appalachia and rural Ohio where I represent. I am proud to have worked with Rep. Kim Schrier to introduce this important legislation in the House of Representatives. It is critical that Congress address the challenges Americans living in technologically underserved areas face when it comes to cellular connectivity,” said Rep. Johnson.