SB 495

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Under existing law, the Federal Communications Commission licenses and partially regulates providers of commercial mobile radio service, including providers of cellular radiotelephone service (cellular) , broadband Personal Communications Services (PCS) , and digital Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) services (collectively, mobile telephony service providers) . Under existing law, no state or local government may regulate the entry of, or the rates charged by, any commercial mobile radio service, but a state or local government is generally not prohibited from regulating the other terms and conditions of commercial mobile radio service. Existing law authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to regulate telecommunications services and rates of telephone corporations, except to the extent regulation of commercial mobile radio service is preempted by federal regulation, and to require telephone corporations to provide certain customer services. Existing provisions of the Warren-911 Emergency Assistance Act, establishes the number "911" as the primary emergency telephone number for use in the state and requires the providing of enhanced service capable of selective routing, automatic number identification, or automatic location identification. Existing law requires that a provider of commercial mobile radio service, as defined, provide access for end users of that service to the local "911" emergency telephone systems, and that user validation not be required. Existing law authorizes a "911" call from a commercial mobile radio service telecommunications device to be routed to a public safety answering point other than the Department of the California Highway Patrol under certain circumstances. This bill would require a mobile telephony services provider to provide call location information relative to a telecommunications device of a user to a requesting law enforcement agency, in order for the law enforcement agency to respond to a call for emergency services or in an emergency situation that involves the risk of death or serious physical harm. The bill would provide that no cause of action shall lie in any court against a mobile telephony services provider, its officers, employees, or agents, for providing call location information relative to a telecommunications device of a user in good faith pursuant to the bill's provisions.