NET 911 Improvement Act of 2008

Madam. Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 42: Passage of H. Res. 475. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

January 22, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 43: Table the appeal of the ruling of the Chair for H. Res. 476. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 44: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H. Res. No. 52. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 45: Motion to suspend the rules and Agreed to H.R. 390. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 46: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H. Res. 29. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

February 8, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 87: Agreeing to the Amendment of H.R. 547, and amendment to include language which encourages the Assistant Administrator to utilize Land Grant Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions and other minority serving institutions among other resources to undertake research for programs covered by the bill. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district. I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 88: Agreeing to the Amendment of H.R. 547, an amendment to add a new paragraph to section 3, Biofuel Infrastructure and Additives Research and Development, to include issues with respect to where in the fuel supply chain additives optimally should be added to fuels. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 89: Agreeing to the Amendment of H.R. 547, an amendment to add a new paragraph to section 3 which includes issues with respect to certification by a nationally recognized testing laboratory of components for fuel dispensing devices that specifically reference compatibility with alcohol blended and biofuels that contain greater than 15 percent alcohol. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 90: Agreeing to the Amendment of H.R. 547, an amendment to add a new section 7 entitled Additional Funding. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 91:

the Motion to Recommit with Instructions of H.R. 547. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 92: Passage of H.R. 547. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

February 28, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 111: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree on H. Con. Res. 52. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

March 12, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 136: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended on H.R. 85. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 137: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree on H. Res. 136. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 138: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree on H. Res. 89. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 187: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as amended on H.R. 802. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 188: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended on H.R. 137. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 189: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended on H.R. 580. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

May 14, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 342: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass on H.R. 1124. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 343: Motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 223. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 344: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree (H. Res. 385). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

May 16, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 358: Call in Committee Quorum. Had I been present, I would have voted ``present.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 359: Motion that the Committee Rise (H.R. 1585). Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

June 11, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district. I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 448: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass on H.R. 2356. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 449: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree on S. 676. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district. I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 450: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree on H. Res. 418. Had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

July 23, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 687: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 404, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 688: Motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 553. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 689: Motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 519. Had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 690: On ordering the previous question on H. Res. 558. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

August 1, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 781: Motion to adjourn. Had I been present. I would have voted ``no.''

september 4, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 847: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 694, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 848: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 3020, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 849: Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 2669. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

september 17, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 867: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 3246, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 868: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1657, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 869: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 3527. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

october 1, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 924: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree on H. Res. 185. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 925: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 2276. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 926: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 3325. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

october 15, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 961: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree on H. Res. 738. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 962: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 2089. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 963: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 20, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

October 17, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 980: Passage of H.R. 2095. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

october 29, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 1010: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 3224, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 1011: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree on H. Res. 573, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 1012: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree on H. Res. 747. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

November 5, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 1034: Closing Portions of the Conference on H.R. 3222. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 1035: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 513, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 1036: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree on H. Res. 744. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

november 7, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 1058: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree on H. Con. Res. 236, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

november 13, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 1082: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 3315. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 1083: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1593, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 1084: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 3403, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 1085: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 3461, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

november 14, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 1095: Motion to Adjourn. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

december 6, 2007

Madam Speaker, due to events in my district, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 1141: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 2085. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3919) to provide for a comprehensive nationwide inventory of existing broadband service, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise to suspend the rules and to pass the Broadband Census of America Act of 2007 because, Mr. Speaker, the overarching telecommunications policy goal of the United States is achieving ubiquitously available, competitive, high-speed, affordable broadband service to all Americans. Such broadband service capability is indispensable to various aspects of the United States economy, including public safety, education, entrepreneurial investment, innovation, job creation, health care delivery, and energy efficiency.

The ability of the United States to promote and achieve a competitive high-speed broadband infrastructure will also be a key factor in determining our Nation's success in the fiercely competitive global economy.

International competitors to the United States are achieving progress in broadband deployment and adoption. Many countries have broadband service capabilities superior to the United States in terms of choice, speed, and price.

For the United States, offering broadband service capability at ever higher transmission speeds could spur new growth in investment in cutting-edge applications, services, and technologies that utilize higher bandwidth functionality.

This bill represents an indispensable first step in developing an overarching blueprint for broadband policy in the United States. In brief, the Broadband Census of America Act tasked the Federal Communications Commission with collecting data from providers of broadband service capability throughout the country, and with developing a series of tiers for categorizing the speeds of such services.

The data collected will be disclosed to the public in an annual report that will include: one, the actual number of residential and business subscribers within each five-digit ZIP code with a list of the broadband technologies present in each ZIP code: and, two, the actual number of residential and business subscribers, correlated to each broadband speed tier identified by the FCC on a statewide basis.

This bill also encompasses a broadband mapping effort as well as community organization initiatives for unserved and underserved areas to increase knowledge of where, what type, and what speed of broadband service may be available.

The bill requires the National Telecommunications Information Agency to develop a national broadband availability map which will include the availability of broadband service capability at the nine-digit ZIP code level, census track level, or functional equivalent.

This is a very consumer-friendly mapping function and ``demand side'' identification initiative that consumer groups, the high-tech community and the telecommunications industry all support.

This map will be interactive and searchable by consumers, and at the providers' discretion will also indicate the type of technology and speed of service offered in that area.

The legislation also includes authorizations for grants to local planning entities and communities around the country. These grants are designed to increase broadband availability and usage in local communities through so-called ``demand side'' identification and other initiatives.

To better gauge how the country is performing compared to international competitors, the bill also requires the FCC to conduct a comparison of the extent of broadband service capability

abroad in 75 foreign communities with equivalent American communities.

This legislation reflects several months of negotiations. And I want to thank Mr. Upton from Michigan for his patient attention to this legislation. No legislation in telecommunications has received the detailed attention that this legislation has on a bipartisan basis, and for that I want to thank Mr. Upton.

I also want to thank the ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Barton, for his work on this legislation. And of course on our side, Mr. Dingell and I worked with the minority towards achieving this legislation. And with the thanks of Mr. Dingell and myself, we once again want to point out how cooperative all of our working relationships were on this legislation.

It also has the support of consumer groups, the Communications Workers of America, NARUC Connect Kentucky, Qwest, and organizations representing the high-tech industry, the cable industry, the telephone industry, and the wireless industry.

I want to again thank Mr. Upton and Mr. Barton for their cooperation in working through the differences on this legislation, and to thank Mr. Dingell for his excellent work on this legislation.

I urge Members of the House to support this bill.

At this point, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Space), who has spent a considerable amount of time working on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I, as well, have no additional requests for speaking time. I would like to thank the staff who worked on this bill, Tim Powderly, Amy Levine, David Vogel, Neil Fried, Courtney Reinhard, thank you, Michael Beckerman, and I would like to thank Maureen Flood from my staff for her excellent work on this legislation. And to correct an oversight from the last piece of legislation, I would like to thank Colin Crowell, who has worked on both this bill and the last bill which just passed as well. I can't say enough about Colin and his work on all of these issues to bring them to a conclusion that is truly bipartisan and nonideological.

General Leave

I also ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3403, as amended, and H.R. 3919, as amended.

So with that, I again, highly recommend this piece of legislation to the Members. It is something that will give us the broadband overview that our country needs. We have been falling over the last 6 years in our international rankings. It is time for us to find out exactly where we are because it will help us to put together the policies that will make us No. 1 looking over our shoulders at No. 2 and 3 in the world.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer unanimous consent to consider the Senate amendment to H.R. 3403, the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008.

When Americans dial 911, they expect the call will go through, regardless of what phone they use. That is why Congress acted in 1999 and 2004 to ensure all Americans had access to 911 services on their wireless phones.

Congress now needs to act to ensure that all Americans have access to lifesaving 911 services on their Voice over the Internet Protocol or VoIP phones and other new technologies.

When I first drafted this legislation in 2005, the intent was to integrate VoIP phones into the Nation's 911 system. Since then the bill has been expanded to include nonvoice technologies used by the deaf and hard of hearing community and other innovative technologies that will exponentially improve public safety for all Americans.

Specifically, the bill will provide VoIP phone service providers direct access to the 911 system at the same rates, terms and conditions, as wireless phone providers. The bill also authorizes VoIP service providers to share customer location information with public safety answering points, PSAPs. This will ensure VoIP services providers can provide full E-911 services to their customers.

The bill extends existing State laws protecting 911 calls made using wireline and wireless phones to not only VoIP 911 calls, but also to any service obligated by the FCC to provide 911 in future, and any service that coordinates with local 911 authorities to offer voluntary 911 emergency services. This will include Video Relay Services and text service used by the deaf and hard of hearing, and new car based 911 services.

By doing this, we will encourage the rapid deployment of innovative new lifesaving 911 technologies, rather than wait for Congress to extend essential liability protections to new technologies.

The bill preserves State, Tribal and local governments' authority to levy 911 fees and stops such fees from being diverted for non 911 purposes.

Finally, the legislation seeks to modernize the Nation's 911 system by requiring the National 911 Coordination Office to establish a national plan to move to an IP-based emergency response network, and allowing 911 PSAP grants to be used for IP-based equipment.

Today's 911 system uses 30-year-old wire and switch technology. Moving to an IP-based system will enable PSAPs for the first time to be interoperable with each other and other first responders. It will also allow them to handle a range of technologies--digital or analog, wireless phone, video, text messaging, data, satellite, VoIP, translation services and even maps of buildings. And it will allow PSAPs to stay operating even if the phone system goes down or their physical locations are destroyed. Events like 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina where 911 systems were overwhelmed highlight why a robust IP based 911 system must be a priority.

H.R. 3403 is supported by the National Emergency Numbering Association, the VON Coalition, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, Earthlink, Inc, the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology, Motorola, Intrado, the TeleCommunications Systems, Inc., and the U.S. Telecommunications Association.

I want to thank the Energy and Commerce Committee and its staff for the bipartisan effort to move this bill quickly.

I also want to thank Senator Ted Stevens, Senator Bill Nelson, the Senate sponsor of the bill, and the co-chairs of E-911 Congressional Caucus Representative Anna Eshoo, Representative John Shimkus, Senator Hillary Clinton.

Working collaboratively with public safety, the deaf and disabled community and the communications industry, we have produced a bill that will greatly improve 911 services in America today and for the future.

I'll close by encouraging my colleagues to vote for this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3403, the ``New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008''.

This legislation ensures that consumers using Voice over Internet Protocol technology, or VoIP, can make full use of the 911 system in two important ways. First, the legislation extends the same liability protections afforded to wireline and wireless carriers, public safety, and end users to VoIP service. This parity in liability protections will encourage service providers, public safety, and end users to continue to rely on the 911 emergency communications system, regardless of the technology used to make a 911 call. Second, the legislation ensures that VolP providers can interconnect with legacy telephone networks so they can deliver calls and information to 911 call centers.

Representative Gordon, the author of H.R. 3403, Representative Markey, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, Representative Barton, Ranking Member of the Committee, Representatives Upton and Stearns, the former and current Ranking Members of the Subcommittee, and I worked very closely with all stakeholders on this legislation, and it has widespread support among the public safety community, industry, and others.

As is clear from the language of the legislation, the requirement for interconnection is for purposes of 911 only and should not be used to bootstrap access for other reasons. Similarly, the legislation makes clear that those who control the legacy gateways to the emergency communications system must provide access, including rights of interconnection, to those seeking to deliver 911 calls and information. Because all stakeholders agreed to the legislative language, we fully expect that this access will not be inhibited by either delay or litigation.

H.R. 3403 also requires the development of a national plan to ensure that the 911 system continues to evolve. It is significant that the plan will include the participation of first responders, including the emergency communications professionals maintaining and using the system. It is also important that the plan will address the needs of the disabilities community when they use emergency communications. I look forward to reviewing the results of this work so we can begin to move to the next generation of emergency communications.

I am disappointed that the Senate stripped out one provision of the House-passed version of this legislation that protected proprietary customer information. This provision prohibited a carrier from using the customer information that other carriers are required to provide for 911 databases for any purpose other than emergency communications. I heard no rational argument against the policy underlying this provision. Nevertheless, in the interest of ensuring that this legislation be enacted swiftly, I will support the bill as passed by the Senate. I intend, however, to take this matter up again in the future. We owe it to consumers to ensure that their emergency communications system does not become a playground for competitive shenanigans.

H.R. 3403 is a forward-looking bill that ensures that consumers using VolP service are able to access 911 as easily as consumers using wireline or wireless services. Each of its elements--giving VoIP providers access to the components they need to provide 911 service; extending to VoIP providers, public safety officials, and end users the liability protections currently afforded to wireline and wireless services; and requiring a plan for the continued evolution of the emergency communications system--is a worthy victory for all consumers. I commend Representative Gordon for his years of dedication to this important issue and hail this success, from which all Americans will reap benefits for years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3403, the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008.

This legislation ensures that consumers using Voice over Internet Protocol technology, or VoIP, can make full use of the 911 system in two important ways. First, the legislation extends the same liability protections afforded to wireline and wireless carriers, public safety, and end users to VoIP service. This parity in liability protections will encourage service providers, public safety, and end users to continue to rely on the 911 emergency communications system, regardless of the technology used to make a 911 call. Second, the legislation ensures that VoIP providers can interconnect with legacy telephone networks so they can deliver calls and information to 911 call centers.

Representative Gordon, the author of H.R. 3403, Representative Markey, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, Representative Barton, Ranking Member of the Committee, Representatives Upton and Stearns, the former and current Ranking Members of the Subcommittee, and I worked very closely with all stakeholders on this legislation, and it has widespread support among the public safety community, industry, and others.

As is clear from the language of the legislation, the requirement for interconnection is for purposes of 911 only and should not be used to bootstrap access for other reasons. Similarly, the legislation makes clear that those who control the legacy gateways to the emergency communications system must provide access, including rights of interconnection, to those seeking to deliver 911 calls and information. Because all stakeholders agreed to the legislative language, we fully expect that this access will not be inhibited by either delay or litigation.

H.R. 3403 also requires the development of a national plan to ensure that the 911 system continues to evolve. It is significant that the plan will include the participation of first responders, including the emergency communications professionals maintaining and using the system. It is also important that the plan will address the needs of the disabilities community when they use emergency communications. I look forward to reviewing the results of this work so we can begin to move to the next generation of emergency communications.

I am disappointed that the Senate stripped out one provision of the House-passed version of this legislation that protected proprietary customer information. This provision prohibited a carrier from using the customer information that other carriers are required to provide for 911 databases for any purpose other than emergency communications. I heard no rational argument against the policy underlying this provision. Nevertheless, in the interest of ensuring that this legislation be enacted swiftly, I will support the bill as passed by the Senate. I intend, however, to take this matter up again in the future. We owe it to consumers to ensure that their emergency communications system does not become a playground for competitive shenanigans.

H.R. 3403 is a forward-looking bill that ensures that consumers using VoIP service are able to access 911 as easily as consumers using wireline or wireless services. Each of its elements--giving VoIP providers access to the components they need to provide 911 service; extending to VoIP providers, public safety officials, and end users the liability protections currently afforded to wireline and wireless services; and requiring a plan for the continued evolution of the emergency communications system--is a worthy victory for all consumers. I commend Representative Gordon for his years of dedication to this important issue and hail this success, from which all Americans will reap benefits for years to come.