Sec. 3. Securing access to networks in disasters

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In this section, and for purposes of the rules required under this section— the term mobile service means— commercial mobile service (as defined in section 332 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 332 )); or commercial mobile data service (as defined in section 6001 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 ( 47 U.S.C. 1401 )); the term mobile service infrastructure means a site or similar facility used to transmit or receive mobile service signals; the term times of emergency means— an emergency as defined in section 102 of the Robert T.

Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5122 ); or an emergency as declared by the Governor of a State or territory of the United States; and the term WiFi access point means wireless Internet access using the standard designated as 802.11 or any variant thereof. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall create a master point of contact directory to provide for effective communication between public safety answering points and telecommunications service providers.

The directory established under this paragraph shall be available to telecommunications service providers and public safety answering points on a confidential basis. In establishing the directory under this paragraph, the Commission shall be exempted from chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the Paperwork Reduction Act ). Not later than 36 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress, and make publically available on the Commission’s website, a study on the public safety benefits and technical feasibility and cost of— making telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points, and other communications technologies operating on unlicensed spectrum, available to the general public for access to 9–1–1 services, without requiring any login credentials, during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable; the provision by non-telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points of public access to 9–1–1 services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable; and other alternative means of providing the public with access to 9–1–1 services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable.

The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on— how Federal agencies can better ensure critical telecommunications networks remain operational during times of emergency; the feasibility and advisability of adding points of contact for local utilities to the directory described in subsection (b)(1); and any legislative matters Congress should consider to help promote network resiliency. Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall transmit a report to Congress containing the findings and recommendations of the study required under paragraph (1).

Section 427 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5189e ) is amended— in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking telecommunications service and inserting communications service, including wireline and mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio and television broadcasting, cable service, and direct broadcast satellite service ; and by adding at the end the following: The President, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall encourage the adoption of mutual aid agreements that recognize the credentials of essential service providers issued by all parties to the mutual aid agreement. .

Section 403(a)(3) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170b(a)(3) ) is amended— in subparagraph (I), by striking and at the end; in the first subparagraph (J)(ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and by striking the second subparagraph

(J)(as added by section 4 of the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006 ( Public Law 109–308 ; 120 Stat. 1725) and inserting the following: establishing temporary or restoring communications service, including wireline and mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio and television broadcasting, cable service, and direct broadcast satellite service. .

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