H.R. 5200119th CongressPassed one chamberLatest action Apr 21, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
The plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
The Emergency Reporting Act requires FCC hearings and reports on phone, internet, and 911 outages after major disasters.
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The bill requires the FCC to hold at least one public hearing each year and issue a report within 120 days whenever its Disaster Information Reporting System is activated for a week or more due to a disaster. These reports must detail how many people lost service, how long outages lasted, and whether 911 centers were affected. The FCC must also study ways to improve outage reporting to 911 centers, including using visual information and addressing possible reporting gaps.
The bill mainly affects the FCC, telecommunications and internet providers, and state, local, and tribal emergency response agencies. Residents would be indirectly affected through improved public information and potentially more reliable 911 systems.
The bill increases reporting and coordination requirements on the FCC and telecom providers after disasters, without creating new regulations on internet providers beyond these reporting and study requirements.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: it passed the House, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 375.