HR7022
Mystic Alerts Act
In one sentence
This bill requires mobile service providers to tell the FCC if they will send emergency alerts via satellite and sets rules for how they must do so.
What it does
- Requires mobile service providers to tell the FCC if they will send emergency alerts via satellite.
- Requires the FCC to create technical rules for sending alerts by satellite within 18 months.
- Requires providers who choose not to send satellite alerts to notify their customers.
- Allows customers to opt out of receiving satellite emergency alerts.
- Prohibits providers from charging extra fees for satellite alert capabilities.
- Limits legal liability for providers that follow the rules when sending or failing to send alerts.
Who it affects
- Commercial mobile service providers that offer satellite voice and data services.
- Subscribers to those mobile services who use devices capable of receiving satellite alerts.
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
- The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Limits and unknowns
- The bill does not force providers to send satellite alerts; participation is voluntary.
- The exact technical standards for satellite alerts are not defined in the bill and must be created by the FCC later.
- The effective date depends on when the FCC publishes its final rule and when other agencies implement their standards.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Covered service provider
- A mobile service provider that already participates in the current emergency alert system and offers satellite voice and data services.
- Satellite alerts
- Emergency messages sent to mobile devices using satellite signals instead of just ground-based cell towers.
- Opt out
- The choice by a customer to stop receiving specific types of alerts on their device.
Official record
Sources
Read the official summary
Mystic Alerts Act This bill provides for wireless emergency alerts to be transmitted to mobile devices via satellite. (Currently, wireless emergency alerts are sent via terrestrial mobile networks to individual devices in geographically targeted areas. Commercial mobile service providers are not required to participate; only devices connected to a participating service provider’s network receive alerts.) Under the bill, commercial mobile service providers that participate in the wireless emergency alerts system must give notice to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) indicating whether they will transmit such alerts via satellite (in addition to sending alerts via terrestrial networks). The FCC must establish technical standards and other regulations to enable satellite emergency alerts. Providers that opt to transmit emergency alerts via satellite must comply with such regulations. If a provider elects not to transmit satellite alerts, the provider must give notice of that election to new and existing subscribers. Separately, mobile service subscribers may opt out of receiving satellite alerts.
Official activity
Bill history
- Presented to President.House floor actions
- Presented to President.Library of Congress
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.Senate
- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5237-5238)Senate
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.Library of Congress
- Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.Senate
- Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.Library of Congress
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.Senate
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.Senate
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.House floor actions
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2970)House floor actions
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2970)Library of Congress
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7022.House floor actions
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2970-2971)House floor actions
- Mr. Allen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.House floor actions
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 534.House floor actions
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-616.House floor actions
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-616.Library of Congress
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 52 - 0.House committee actions
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session HeldHouse committee actions