# 114-hr-3998: Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act

114-hr-3998, Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act, is a 114th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6] (D-NJ); status Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-3998
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 114-hr-3998
- Congress: 114
- Title: Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act
- Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Introduced: 2015-11-16
- Sponsor: Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6] (D-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to commence proceedings on the provision of roaming agreements between mobile service providers to: (1) allow for mobile service at reasonable rates during emergencies when there is a mobile service outage lasting longer than 24 hours, and (2) provide for roaming agreements at no charge for communications during emergencies to or from 911 services. The types of emergencies subject to this Act are: (1) occasions or instances under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for which the President determines that federal assistance is needed to supplement state and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States; or (2) an emergency declared by the governor of a state or U.S. territory. The FCC must create a master point of contact directory for communications between public safety answering points and telecommunications service providers. The FCC must also submit a study on mobile service providers supplying outage data to public safety answering points and on making WiFi access points available to the public for 911 services during emergencies. The Government Accountability Office must report on the resiliency of telecommunications networks power utility during emergencies. The Stafford Act is amended to include all categories of communications service providers (currently, only telecommunications service providers) among the essential service providers that may access a disaster site to restore and repair essential services in an emergency or major disaster without being denied or impeded by a federal agency. Communications services include wireline and mobile telephone, Internet, radio and television broadcasting, cable, and direct broadcast satellite services. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must: (1) ensure that essential service providers have escorts to relevant locations and priority access to relevant resources, and (2) establish a program to provide credentials to essential service providers to facilitate such access.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Rep. Sires, Albio [D-NJ-8] (D-NJ), 2016-01-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), 2016-01-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-9] (D-NJ), 2016-01-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2016-02-09T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 114-hr-5621: To posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Lawrence Eugene "Larry" Doby in recognition of his achievements and contributions to American major league…
- 114-hr-5207: Freedom of Religion Act of 2016
- 114-hr-5090: To ensure that air transportation between the United States and the European Union complies with the intent of article 17 bis of the United States-European Uni…
- 114-hr-5044: Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2016 to respond to Zika virus.
- 114-hr-5025: 2016 Tax Day Floods Supplemental Funding Act
- 114-hr-4592: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act

## Sources
- [114-hr-3998 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/3998)

## Related
- [114-hr-5621: To posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Lawrence Eugene "Larry" Dob…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5621)
- [114-hr-5207: Freedom of Religion Act of 2016](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5207)
- [114-hr-5090: To ensure that air transportation between the United States and the European Un…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5090)
- [114-hr-5044: Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2016 to respond to Zika viru…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5044)
- [114-hr-5025: 2016 Tax Day Floods Supplemental Funding Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5025)
- [114-hr-4592: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-4592)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-3998 (as of 2025-11-18).