SENATE FAILS TO PASS E-911 BILL DESPITE ‘HOTLINE’ EFFORT

摘要

The Senate failed to pass an E-911 bill (S-1063) through a “hotline” procedure that accelerates a bill’s passage by asking members to approve it without a roll call. Republicans gave the green light, but several Democrats placed holds on it, according to a Senate source and industry sources familiar with the legislation. The Democratic holds are thought to be unrelated to the bill’s content, but that’s yet to be determined, the Senate source said. The bill, which was introduced last year by Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) would require VoIP providers to give customers E-911 service. The bill faced previous opposition from Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), who placed a hold on it due to concern over a provision that would allow VoIP providers to get waivers if they couldn’t meet E-911 requirements within a certain time frame. Public safety groups and FCC Chmn. Kevin Martin registered concern over the provision, so it was stripped from the bill, a Senate source said.