Emergency Reporting Act
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The bill would require the Federal Communications Commission to hold annual public hearings and issue reports after major disaster-related communications outages, and to study gaps in 9-1-1 outage reporting rules.
It would give emergency managers, first responders, and Congress more systematic public data on why phone, internet, and 9-1-1 networks fail during disasters, without giving the FCC new regulatory authority over broadband providers.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would require the FCC to hold at least one public hearing each year covering any events in the prior year for which the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) was activated for seven days or more, and would direct the agency to consider including state, local, and tribal officials, affected residents, providers, and first responders in those hearings. Within 120 days after each hearing, the FCC would have to publish a report detailing the number and duration of outages to broadband, VoIP, mobile, and mobile data services, the users and infrastructure affected, and outages that blocked 9-1-1 centers from receiving calls or location data, plus recommendations for improving network resiliency. Separately, within one year of enactment the FCC would have to investigate and report on unreported 9-1-1 outages, the value of adding visual information to outage notifications, and recommended rule changes. The bill explicitly states it gives the FCC no new authority over broadband providers beyond what it specifies.
Key provisions
- 1Would require the FCC to hold at least one annual public hearing on events triggering week-long or longer activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System
- 2Would require the FCC to consider including state, local, and tribal officials, residents, providers, and first responders in each hearing
- 3Would require a report within 120 days of each hearing detailing outage numbers, duration, affected users, and resiliency recommendations
- 4Would require the FCC to publish these reports on its website, excluding confidential or exempt information
- 5Would require a separate FCC investigation and report on unreported 9-1-1 outages and the value of visual outage notifications within one year of enactment
- 6Clarifies the Act gives the FCC no new authority over broadband internet access providers beyond what is specified
Who would be affected
The Federal Communications Commission, which must conduct the hearings and reports; state, local, and tribal governments and first responders who may participate; and communications providers offering broadband, VoIP, and mobile services, whose outage data and notification practices would be studied and reported on publicly.
Why it matters
Emergency managers and the public would gain regular, detailed public reporting on why communications networks fail during disasters, including gaps in current 9-1-1 outage reporting rules. Communications providers could face scrutiny over outage patterns and possible future rule changes affecting how they report outages and notify emergency centers.
What would change
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- First annual public hearing on DIRS-activated events
- Report following each public hearing
- FCC investigation and report on network outage reporting improvements
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 5200 would cost less than $500,000 annually, subject to appropriation, with no significant effect on the federal deficit.
H.R. 5200, the Emergency Reporting Act, would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to hold an annual public hearing and issue a report on disasters that activated its Disaster Information Reporting System for at least seven days, and to report on network outages. CBO found that the bill would impose modest administrative costs on the FCC — estimated at less than $500,000 per year — to conduct the hearings and prepare the reports; those costs would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds (discretionary spending). CBO identified no significant effect on direct (mandatory) spending or revenues, and found no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
How implementation would work
The FCC would identify disaster events triggering week-long DIRS activation, hold annual public hearings inviting government officials, providers, and first responders, and compile hearing input with DIRS data into reports due within 120 days, published online except for confidential material. Separately, within a year the FCC would investigate 9-1-1 outage reporting gaps and visual-notification practices, publish findings online, and recommend rule changes, though the bill does not itself require the FCC to adopt any new rules.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 375.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate and report on emergency communications outages (e.g., 9-1-1 outages).
Specifically, the FCC must publish a general report on (1) the volume and nature of 9-1-1 outages that are not required to be reported under current outage notification rules, (2) the value and practicality of including visual information in outage notifications from communications providers, and (3) recommended changes to FCC rules to address these issues.
Separately, the FCC must hold annual public hearings on events for which the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) was activated for at least a week. (DIRS is a reporting system that is activated during severe weather and other events impacting communications service. It enables communications providers to report outages and other degradations to service.) After each such hearing, the FCC must issue a report that includes information about the number, duration, and nature of all associated outages, along with recommendations for improving the resiliency of affected communications services or networks. Such reports must generally be made public on the FCC website.
Legislative subjects
Congressional oversight; Electric power generation and transmission; Emergency communications systems; Emergency medical services and trauma care; Emergency planning and evacuation; Government information and archives; Government studies and investigations; Natural disasters; Science, Technology, Communications; Telephone and wireless communication
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-597