H.R. 4974 – Reading Mode

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4974

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 27, 2023

Mr. Cárdenas (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. Matsui, Ms. Kuster, and Mr. Moulton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to improve the accessibility of 9–8–8, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Local 9–8–8 Response Act of 2023.

9–8–8 Improvement

(a)

Proximity-Based routing

(1)

In general

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate regulations to ensure that each phone call, text message, and chat made or sent to 9–8–8 is routed to the participating crisis center that is closest to the geographic area from which such phone call, text message, or chat originated.

(2)

Limitation

In promulgating regulations under paragraph (1), the Commission shall protect the privacy of individuals who contact 9–8–8 by ensuring that a call, text message, or chat made or sent to 9–8–8 does not reveal the precise location of the individual who made or sent such call, text message, or chat.

(b)

Transmission of all calls and texts

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate regulations to ensure that each provider of commercial mobile service transmits all calls and text messages made or sent to 9–8–8, including a call or text message that originates from a non-service-initialized handset (if such call or text message originates on a phone using a compliant radio frequency protocol of the provider).

(c)

Configuration of multi-Line telephone systems for direct dialing

(1)

In general

Section 721 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 623) is amended—

(A)

in the section heading, by inserting and 9–8–8 after 9–1–1;

(B)

in subsection (a), by inserting and 9–8–8 after 9–1–1; and

(C)

in subsection (b), by inserting and 9–8–8 after 9–1–1.

(2)

Applicability

(A)

In general

The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply to actions occurring on and after the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(B)

Exception

The amendment made by paragraph (1)(C) shall not apply to the management or operation of a multi-line telephone system installed before the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, if such system is not able to be configured to satisfy the requirements of such amendment, without an improvement to the hardware or software of the system.

(d)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

9–8–8

The term 9–8–8 means 9–8–8, as designated as the universal telephone number within the United States for the purpose of the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system under section 251(e)(4) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 251(e)(4)).

(2)

Commercial mobile service

The term commercial mobile service has the meaning given such term in section 332(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332(d)).

(3)

Commission

The term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission.

(4)

Non-service-initialized handset

The term non-service-initialized handset has the meaning given that term in section 9.10(o)(3)(i) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations.