An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in alternative form of regulation of telecommunications services, providing for compensation to volunteer fire co . . .mpanies for outages of 911 systems.
Summary
HB366 would amend Pennsylvania’s Public Utilities laws to create a new compensation requirement for local exchange telecommunications companies when a system failure causes an outage of a 911 system. If that outage forces a volunteer fire company to keep a volunteer firefighter physically stationed at the fire station, the telecommunications company would owe that fire company $1,000 for each hour of required standby coverage.
The bill is narrowly focused on emergency communications reliability and the operational burden placed on volunteer fire companies during 911 outages. It defines the affected terms by cross-reference to existing Pennsylvania statutes for 911 systems, volunteer fire companies, and volunteer firefighters, and it would take effect 60 days after enactment.
Impact
HB366 would add a new section to Title 66 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, expanding the state’s regulation of telecommunications service providers by imposing a direct financial liability for 911-related outages. The practical effect would be to shift some of the costs of emergency standby staffing from volunteer fire companies to local exchange telecommunications companies when a system failure disrupts 911 service. It would affect telecommunications providers, volunteer fire companies, and, indirectly, local emergency response operations across the Commonwealth.
Sentiment
The bill’s available context suggests a generally supportive posture, or at least no recorded opposition in the materials provided. It was introduced by multiple sponsors and referred to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness, indicating a policy focus on public safety and emergency readiness. No committee transcript or vote record is available here, so there is no documented debate or recorded sentiment beyond the bill’s protective framing for volunteer fire companies.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the financial burden placed on telecommunications companies, which would be required to pay a fixed hourly amount whenever a 911 outage forces volunteer fire companies to maintain staffing. Supporters are likely to view this as a fair accountability measure that compensates emergency responders for added costs caused by provider failures. Opponents, if any, would likely argue that the bill creates automatic liability tied to outages, may be difficult to administer, and could raise costs for telecom providers and, potentially, consumers.
In alternative form of regulation of telecommunications services, providing for compensation to volunteer fire companies for equipment or infrastructure failures.
In incentives for municipal volunteers of fire companies and nonprofit emergency medical services agencies, further providing for definitions, for volunteer service credit program, for service record, for certification and for duties of State Fire Commissioner.
In firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for limitation on the regulation of firearms and ammunition; and, in preemptions, providing for regulation of firearms and ammunition.