§ 615. — Support for universal emergency telephone number.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[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.''
