
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 47USC615]

 
          TITLE 47--TELEGRAPHS, TELEPHONES, AND RADIOTELEGRAPHS
 
                 CHAPTER 5--WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION
 
                 SUBCHAPTER VI--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
 
Sec. 615. Support for universal emergency telephone number

    The Federal Communications Commission shall encourage and support 
efforts by States to deploy comprehensive end-to-end emergency 
communications infrastructure and programs, based on coordinated 
statewide plans, including seamless, ubiquitous, reliable wireless 
telecommunications networks and enhanced wireless 9-1-1 service. In 
encouraging and supporting that deployment, the Commission shall consult 
and cooperate with State and local officials responsible for emergency 
services and public safety, the telecommunications industry 
(specifically including the cellular and other wireless 
telecommunications service providers), the motor vehicle manufacturing 
industry, emergency medical service providers and emergency dispatch 
providers, transportation officials, special 9-1-1 districts, public 
safety, fire service and law enforcement officials, consumer groups, and 
hospital emergency and trauma care personnel (including emergency 
physicians, trauma surgeons, and nurses). The Commission shall encourage 
each State to develop and implement coordinated statewide deployment 
plans, through an entity designated by the governor, and to include 
representatives of the foregoing organizations and entities in 
development and implementation of such plans. Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to authorize or require the Commission to impose 
obligations or costs on any person.

(Pub. L. 106-81, Sec. 3(b), Oct. 26, 1999, 113 Stat. 1287.)

                          Codification

    Section was enacted as part of the Wireless Communications and 
Public Safety Act of 1999, and not as part of the Communications Act of 
1934 which comprises this chapter.


                          Findings and Purpose

    Pub. L. 106-81, Sec. 2, Oct. 26, 1999, 113 Stat. 1286, provided 
that:
    ``(a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
        ``(1) the establishment and maintenance of an end-to-end 
    communications infrastructure among members of the public, emergency 
    safety, fire service and law enforcement officials, emergency 
    dispatch providers, transportation officials, and hospital emergency 
    and trauma care facilities will reduce response times for the 
    delivery of emergency care, assist in delivering appropriate care, 
    and thereby prevent fatalities, substantially reduce the severity 
    and extent of injuries, reduce time lost from work, and save 
    thousands of lives and billions of dollars in health care costs;
        ``(2) the rapid, efficient deployment of emergency 
    telecommunications service requires statewide coordination of the 
    efforts of local public safety, fire service and law enforcement 
    officials, emergency dispatch providers, and transportation 
    officials; the establishment of sources of adequate funding for 
    carrier and public safety, fire service and law enforcement agency 
    technology development and deployment; the coordination and 
    integration of emergency communications with traffic control and 
    management systems and the designation of 9-1-1 as the number to 
    call in emergencies throughout the Nation;
        ``(3) emerging technologies can be a critical component of the 
    end-to-end communications infrastructure connecting the public with 
    emergency medical service providers and emergency dispatch 
    providers, public safety, fire service and law enforcement 
    officials, and hospital emergency and trauma care facilities, to 
    reduce emergency response times and provide appropriate care;
        ``(4) improved public safety remains an important public health 
    objective of Federal, State, and local governments and substantially 
    facilitates interstate and foreign commerce;
        ``(5) emergency care systems, particularly in rural areas of the 
    Nation, will improve with the enabling of prompt notification of 
    emergency services when motor vehicle crashes occur; and
        ``(6) the construction and operation of seamless, ubiquitous, 
    and reliable wireless telecommunications systems promote public 
    safety and provide immediate and critical communications links among 
    members of the public; emergency medical service providers and 
    emergency dispatch providers; public safety, fire service and law 
    enforcement officials; transportation officials, and hospital 
    emergency and trauma care facilities.
    ``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act [see Short Title of 1999 
Amendments note set out under section 609 of this title] is to encourage 
and facilitate the prompt deployment throughout the United States of a 
seamless, ubiquitous, and reliable end-to-end infrastructure for 
communications, including wireless communications, to meet the Nation's 
public safety and other communications needs.''
