Summary#
This bill directs two parts of the federal government to study and report on how to send location data with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It does not itself change who must send location data or create new rules requiring transmission. The stated goal is to identify the legal, technical, privacy, and funding issues that affect getting caller location to 988 centers and to 911 centers when needed.
- Main change: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must start a notice of inquiry on challenges to transmitting geolocation information with 988 calls within 270 days of enactment.
- The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must complete and deliver a report to Congress within 180 days on opportunities and challenges for implementing geolocation for 988.
- Both actions must cover legal authority, consumer privacy, technical feasibility, implementation standards, and potential costs or funding options.
- The GAO must consult a long list of stakeholders, including telecom providers, handset makers, emergency call centers, 988 and Veterans Crisis Line operators, state and local governments (including rural areas), mental health organizations, and groups serving people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- The bill asks the FCC to consider special technical issues for direct video calling and video relay service used by people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
What it means for you#
- People calling 988: The bill itself does not change whether your location is shared. It starts studies that could lead to future rules or recommendations about sending location with 988 calls.
- People who are deaf or hard of hearing: The bill specifically asks the FCC to look at technical challenges for video calls and video relay service. That could lead to later guidance or standards that affect how location works for video-based access.
- Local crisis centers and the 988 Lifeline: They will be studied for technical and funding needs. The GAO report may recommend steps that affect how these centers receive location data and whether they need more funding or technical support.
- Telecom and technology companies (wireless carriers, VoIP providers, handset makers): They must be consulted. The FCC inquiry will examine what is technically possible and what standards would be needed to deliver geolocation to 988 centers. This could lead to future rules that affect how these companies provide location data.
- 911 systems and public safety answering points (PSAPs): The bill looks at methods for transferring location information from 988 centers to 911 centers. It could influence future interoperability or handoff procedures.
- State and local governments, including rural areas: The bill requires consultation with these entities and asks the GAO to consider issues specific to low-population and rural communities.
Expenses#
No publicly available information.
- The bill requires the FCC to run a notice of inquiry and the GAO to do a study and report. The text does not include a fiscal estimate or specific funding.
- Likely cost types that could arise (the bill does not quantify these): FCC staff time and administrative costs to run the inquiry; GAO staff time to conduct the study and consultations; time and expense for outside organizations to participate in consultations and respond to the inquiry.
- The bill asks the GAO to assess potential costs and funding options for telecom providers, 988 centers, the Veterans Crisis Line, and local crisis centers if geolocation were to be mandated. Those implementation costs are not estimated in the bill itself.
Proponents' View#
- The bill appears intended to improve emergency response for people calling 988 by studying how to get accurate location data to crisis centers and, when needed, to 911.
- It could identify legal and privacy barriers before any rule is made. This may help design workable, privacy-protecting approaches.
- The bill asks for attention to technical challenges faced by people who use video access (for example, people who are deaf or hard of hearing), so solutions could be more inclusive.
- By requiring a GAO report and stakeholder consultation, the bill could produce detailed, practical recommendations about standards, costs, and funding options.
Opponents' View#
- One concern is that the bill does not provide funding for implementation. The studies could identify needs but leave unanswered how to pay for technical upgrades or new services.
- The bill does not itself change any rules. It delays any action to study the problem first, which some could see as slow if immediate fixes are wanted.
- Privacy and legal questions are complex. The bill asks the FCC and GAO to study them, but it does not say how to balance privacy with emergency response. It is unclear whether the studies will lead to specific protections.
- The bill does not set a timeline for follow-up rulemaking. It is unclear whether and when the FCC or Congress would act on the reports’ findings.