47 U.S.C. § 615c: Emergency Access Advisory Committee

For the purpose of achieving equal access to emergency services by individuals with disabilities, as a part of the migration to a national Internet protocol-enabled emergency network, not later than 60 days after October 8, 2010 , the Chairman of the Commission shall establish an advisory committee, to be known as the Emergency Access Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as the “Advisory Committee”). Representatives of State and local governments and representatives of emergency response providers, selected from among individuals nominated by national organizations representing such governments and representatives. providers of interconnected and non-interconnected VoIP services; vendors, developers, and manufacturers of systems, facilities, equipment, and capabilities for the provision of interconnected and non-interconnected VoIP services; national organizations representing individuals with disabilities and senior citizens; Federal agencies or departments responsible for the implementation of the Next Generation E 9–1–1 system; the National Institute of Standards and Technology; and other individuals with such technical knowledge and expertise. Representatives of such other stakeholders and interested and affected parties as the Chairman of the Commission determines appropriate. with respect to what actions are necessary as a part of the migration to a national Internet protocol-enabled network to achieve reliable, interoperable communication transmitted over such network that will ensure access to emergency services by individuals with disabilities; for protocols, technical capabilities, and technical requirements to ensure the reliability and interoperability necessary to ensure access to emergency services by individuals with disabilities; for the establishment of technical standards for use by public safety answering points, designated default answering points, and local emergency authorities; for relevant technical standards and requirements for communication devices and equipment and technologies to enable the use of reliable emergency access; for procedures to be followed by IP-enabled network providers to ensure that such providers do not install features, functions, or capabilities that would conflict with technical standards; for deadlines by which providers of interconnected and non-interconnected VoIP services and manufacturers of equipment used for such services shall achieve the actions required in paragraphs (1) through (5), where achievable, and for the possible phase out of the use of current-generation TTY technology to the extent that this technology is replaced with more effective and efficient technologies and methods to enable access to emergency services by individuals with disabilities; for the establishment of rules to update the Commission’s rules with respect to 9–1–1 services and E–911 services (as defined in section 158(e)(4) 1 of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act ( 1 See References in Text note below. 47 U.S.C. 942(e)(4) )), for users of telecommunications relay services as new technologies and methods for providing such relay services are adopted by providers of such relay services; and that take into account what is technically and economically feasible. The initial meeting of the Advisory Committee shall take place not later than 45 days after the completion of the member appointment process by the Chairman of the Commission pursuant to subsection (b). After the initial meeting, the Advisory Committee shall meet at the call of the chairs, but no less than monthly until the recommendations required pursuant to subsection (c) are completed and submitted. Any meetings held by the Advisory Committee shall be duly noticed at least 14 days in advance and shall be open to the public. One-third of the members of the Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum for conducting business of the Advisory Committee. To assist the Advisory Committee in carrying out its functions, the chair may establish appropriate subcommittees composed of members of the Advisory Committee and other subject matter experts as determined to be necessary. The Advisory Committee may adopt other rules as needed. Chapter 10 of title 5 shall not apply to the Advisory Committee. The Commission shall have the authority to promulgate regulations to implement the recommendations proposed by the Advisory Committee, as well as any other regulations, technical standards, protocols, and procedures as are necessary to achieve reliable, interoperable communication that ensures access by individuals with disabilities to an Internet protocol-enabled emergency network, where achievable and technically feasible. the term “Commission” means the Federal Communications Commission; the term “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission; and except as otherwise expressly provided, other terms have the meanings given such terms in section 153 of this title .