BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 666
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   July 16, 2003

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                              Darrell Steinberg, Chair

                     SB 666 (Bowen) - As Amended:  June 12, 2003 

          Policy Committee:                               
          UtilitiesVote:13-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires the Communication Division of the Department  
          of General Services (DGS) to issue an annual report on the  
          status of implementing 911 services in connection with wireless  
          telecommunications.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor absorbable special fund costs to DGS.

           COMMENTS  

           Background  .  When 911 is called from traditional telephones, the  
          public safety answer point (PSAP), which is the police, fire,  
          sheriff, or CHP dispatch center that answers the call, is  
          automatically provided with the caller's telephone number and  
          street address.  When 911 is called from a wireless phone,  
          however, the calling number is only sporadically provided and  
          location information is never provided.  This lack of location  
          information for wireless 911 calls can delay emergency response,  
          and in some instances, result in loss of life.

          Providing location information requires three actions.  First,  
          the wireless phone networks must be capable of supplying the  
          location information.  Second, for some wireless phone  
          companies, the handset must be upgraded to work with the  
          wireless phone network.  Third, the PSAPs must be upgraded to  
          make use of the location information.  Responsibility for these  
          actions is dispersed between the wireless phone company (network  
          upgrade), the customer (handset upgrade), and the Communications  
          Division and PSAPs (PSAP equipment upgrade).  This bill requires  








                                                                  SB 666
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          an annual status report from DGS on the system upgrading.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081