Press Release 2/23/15

Rep. Frank Pallone

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, continued to urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enhance the accuracy of location identifiers used during 9-1-1 emergency calls.  The issue has garnered attention, most recently on the TODAY Show this morning, after reportsshowed that emergency responders were unable to locate and, ultimately, rescue an Atlanta woman who accidentally drove her SUV off the road and into a pond back in December.  Pallone made clear that having precise information is critical so that law enforcement and emergency services professionals can respond as quickly as possible when callers find themselves in dire circumstances.

“When someone calls 9-1-1, the difference between life and death can be a matter of seconds,” said Congressman Pallone.  “First responders cannot afford to waste precious time struggling to identify the caller’s whereabouts.  We need to make sure that, when it matters most, first responders have the precise information that they need in order to locate those in need of immediate assistance.”

Last month, Congressman Pallone, along with Congressman Fred Upton, Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, sent a letter to Tom Wheeler, Chairman of the FCC, requesting that the agency continue efforts to improve location identifiers in order to provide first responders with the exact location of callers.

Pallone and Upton also expressed their bipartisan support of the Commission’s efforts to establish indoor location accuracy rules for 9-1-1 calls.  The lawmakers argued that without this improvement to the nation’s 9-1-1 policies, first responders can be delayed, which can cost lives.  In the letter, they encouraged the FCC to adopt a technology-neutral solution that leverages all available technologies.

In response to the letter from Pallone and Upton, the FCC quickly adopted improved 9-1-1 policies that will ultimately give first responders the technology-neutral tools they need to keep us safe.