September is earliest date for Senate telecom vote
As expected, the U.S. Senate this week all but assured it will not vote on a communications-reform bill that includes several 911-related provisions, meaning Congress will have wait until September to consider the legislation.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist reportedly said that the communications-reform legislation is not scheduled to reach the Senate floor this week. With Congress about to embark on a month-long recess, the bill would not be able to reach the Senate until September, according to Beltway sources.
The break may give Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) the time he needs to ensure that he has enough votes when the legislation reaches the Senate floor. The bill features a nationwide video franchise for incumbent telecom carriers, but the fact that it does not include “net neutrality” language has many elected officials opposing the bill. At the moment, it’s doubtful that Stevens has the 60 votes needed to override a filibuster effort on the Senate floor.
“Stevens isn’t going to move anything until he has his votes,” said Harlin McEwen, chairman of the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s communications and technology committee. “He’s saying he’s close to getting the votes he needs, but he doesn’t have them yet, apparently.”
Currently, the bill passed by the Senate Commerce Committee has several items related to 911 networks, including provisions that would let public-safety answering points (PSAPs) use federal funds to upgrade to IP-based technologies, would require broadband providers to prioritize 911 calls if technically feasible, and would require a new national 911 Program Office to report on its status within 90 days of the bill being enacted.
Probably the most controversial portion of the bill for the public-safety community is a measure that would let public-safety entities use some of the $1 billion in interoperability grants—supported by revenues generated by the auction of 700 MHz spectrum to commercial operators scheduled to be held in 2008—for PSAP upgrades. While National Emergency Number Association officials lobbied for the amendment, many other public-safety officials have expressed concern that Congress would use the measure as justification for not funding the $1.25 billion authorized for PSAP upgrades in the Enhance 911 Act of 2004.
Of course, getting the bill passed by the Senate will not be enough to ensure that it will become law, as Senate and House leaders will have to resolve differences in a conference committee.
“Even if [Stevens] gets the vote through [the Senate], the differences between the House and the Senate are significant,” McEwen said. “What will happen then is anybody’s guess.”
