,,ii #aadth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #biig ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #bf1 #bjaf ,ms4 ,cantwell 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,booker1 and ,mr4 ,schumer7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,federal ,communications ,commission to commence proceedings related to the resiliency of critical telecommunications networks during times of emergency1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this section may be cited as the ,securing ,access to ,networks in ,disasters ,act of #bjaf4 #b4 ,findings2 ,sense of ,congress 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,severe weather and emergencies can have devastating effects on communities large and small1 including rural areas and urban centers4 7#b7 #aj1fdi deaths were attributed to weather related causes during #bjjf to #bjaj4 7#c7 ,according to the third national climate assessment1 completed in #bjad1 microclimate weather models predict increased temperatures1 and less frequent but more intense storm events4 7#d7 ,in #bjae1 there were #i1djg1ega acres burned in wildfires and the ,united ,states ,fire ,administration spent #a1gjj1jjj1jjj on wildfire suppression and #b1fjj1jjj1jjj on all wildfire related budget costs in #bjae4 ,wildfire potential is expected to remain static or increase over the coming fire seasons4 7#e7 ,during times of emergencies such as a natural disaster1 severe storm1 or act of terrorism1 communications networks serve as a vital tool for individuals1 #i-a-a centers1 and first responders4 7#f7 ,during times of emergency1 it is critical that consumers be able to access cell phone networks1 including to contact #i-a-a1 even in the event that damage or outage has occurred on their own home network4 7#g7 ,consumer wireless devices are becoming increasingly important to the safety and security of the public during emergencies1 whether to contact #i-a-a1 receive emergency alerts1 communicate with loved ones1 or receive vital information like shelter locations using mobile applications and social media platforms4 7#h7 ,in ,april #bjaf1 major cell phone carriers announced a ,wireless ,network ,resiliency ,cooperative ,framework 7referred to in this subsection as the ,framework7 that outlines reasonable arrangements between the networks for cell phone roaming during disasters1 fosters mutual aid during emergencies1 and aids in consumer readiness during times of emergency4 7#i7 ,voluntary agreements similar to the ,framework can provide benefits to consumers by offering increased flexibility for carriers to adjust their efforts as technology and the emergency response ecosystem evolves4 7#aj7 ,although the initial ,framework reflects agreement among the #e largest carriers in the ,nation1 the agreement could potentially be expanded to include1 or serve as a model for1 other carriers especially those in underserved or rural areas4 7#aa7 ,close coordination among service providers and the public safety community is essential in advance of1 during1 and following emergencies4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the voluntary policies outlined in the ,wireless ,network ,resiliency ,cooperative ,framework should be adhered to1 to the best of the carriers' ability1 to aid consumers1 #i-a-a professionals1 first responders1 and local governments1 in accessing communication services during times of emergency4 #c4 ,securing access to networks in disasters 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section1 and for purposes of the rules required under this section-- 7#a7 the term mobile service means-- 7,a7 commercial mobile service 7as defined in section #ccb of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #ccb772 or 7,b7 commercial mobile data service 7as defined in section #fjja of the ,middle ,class ,tax ,relief and ,job ,creation ,act of #bjab 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #adja772 7#b7 the term mobile service infrastructure means a site or similar facility used to transmit or receive mobile service signals2 7#c7 the term times of emergency means-- 7,a7 an emergency as defined in section #ajb of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eabb72 or 7,b7 an emergency as declared by the ,governor of a ,state or territory of the ,united ,states2 and 7#d7 the term ,wi,fi access point means wireless ,internet access using the standard designated as #hjb4aa or any variant thereof4 7b7 ,proceedings related to cellular network resiliency 7#a7 ,directory 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall create a master point of contact directory to provide for effective communication between public safety answering points and telecommunications service providers4 7,b7 ,confidentiality ,the directory established under this paragraph shall be available to telecommunications service providers and public safety answering points on a confidential basis4 7,c7 ,exemption from ,paperwork ,reduction ,act requirements ,in establishing the directory under this paragraph1 the ,commission shall be exempted from chapter #ce of title #dd1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly known as the ,paperwork ,reduction ,act74 7#b7 ,study on network resiliency ,not later than #cf months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall submit to ,congress1 and make publically available on the ,commission's website1 a study on the public safety benefits and technical feasibility and cost of-- 7,a7 making telecommunications service provider-owned ,wi,fi access points1 and other communications technologies operating on unlicensed spectrum1 available to the general public for access to #i-a-a services1 without requiring any login credentials1 during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable2 7,b7 the provision by non-telecommunications service provider-owned ,wi,fi access points of public access to #i-a-a services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable2 and 7,c7 other alternative means of providing the public with access to #i-a-a services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable4 7c7 ,,gao study and report 7#a7 ,study ,the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall conduct a study on-- 7,a7 how ,federal agencies can better ensure critical telecommunications networks remain operational during times of emergency2 7,b7 the feasibility and advisability of adding points of contact for local utilities to the directory described in subsection 7b77#a72 and 7,c7 any legislative matters ,congress should consider to help promote network resiliency4 7#b7 ,report ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general shall transmit a report to ,congress containing the findings and recommendations of the study required under paragraph 7#a74 7d7 ,expanding list of essential service providers during federally declared emergencies ,to include all communications providers2 providing access to essential service providers ,section #dbg of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eahi;e7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a77#a77;,a71 by striking telecommunications service and inserting communications service1 including wireline and mobile telephone service1 ,internet access service1 radio and television broadcasting1 cable service1 and direct broadcast satellite service2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7d7 ,mutual aid agreements ,the ,president1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 shall encourage the adoption of mutual aid agreements that recognize the credentials of essential service providers issued by all parties to the mutual aid agreement4 4 7e7 ,communications networks are designated essential assistance during federally declared emergencies ,section #djc7;a77#c7 of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj;b7a77#c77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,i71 by striking and at the end2 7#b7 in the first subparagraph 7,j77ii71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by striking the second subparagraph 7,j7 7as added by section #d of the ,pets ,evacuation and ,transportation ,standards ,act of #bjjf 7,public ,law #aji-cjh2 #abj ,stat4 #agbe7 and inserting the following3 7,k7 establishing temporary or restoring communications service1 including wireline and mobile telephone service1 ,internet access service1 radio and television broadcasting1 cable service1 and direct broadcast satellite service4 4