Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999
Public Law 106-81 · S. 800 · 106th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Oct 26, 1999 · Science, Technology, Communications
Sponsor: Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT)
Cosponsors (15): Sen. John McCain, Sen. Byron Dorgan,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 424 yea, 2 nay424–2
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and any agency or entity to which the FCC delegates such authority to designate 911 as the universal emergency telephone number within the United States for reporting an emergency to appropriate authorities and requesting assistance. Applies such designation to both wireline and wireless telephone service. Directs the FCC to provide appropriate transition periods for areas in which 911 is not currently an emergency number.
Requires the FCC to encourage and support efforts by States to deploy comprehensive end-to-end emergency communications infrastructure and programs based on coordinated statewide plans. Requires appropriate consultation with regard to such deployment.
Provides immunity from liability, to the same extent as provided to local telephone exchange companies, for providers of wireless service. Provides immunity for users of wireless 911 service to the same extent as provided to users of 911 service that is not wireless. Provides immunity for public safety answering points (emergency dispatchers).
Authorizes telecommunications carriers to provide call location information concerning a user of a commercial mobile service to: (1) emergency dispatchers and emergency service personnel in order to respond to the user's call; (2) the user's legal guardian or family member in an emergency situation that involves the risk of death or serious physical harm; or (3) providers of information or data base management services solely for assisting in the delivery of emergency services. Requires a customer's express prior authorization for disclosure to any other person. Requires telephone exchange service providers to provide both listed and unlisted subscriber information to providers of emergency and emergency support services.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 106th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 424 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
424 yea2 nay8 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(207)
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-13
Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7
Rep. Maxine WatersD-CA-35
Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-50
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-14
Rep. Barbara LeeD-CA-9
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7- Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Jesse JacksonD-IL-2
Rep. Donald PayneD-NJ-10
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4
Rep. Michael CapuanoD-MA-8
Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23
Rep. Dennis KucinichD-OH-10- Rep. Earl HilliardD-AL-7
- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
Rep. Maurice HincheyD-NY-26- Rep. Major OwensD-NY-11
- Rep. Cynthia McKinneyD-GA-4
Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
Rep. Danny DavisD-IL-7
Rep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12
Rep. Bernie SandersD-VT
Rep. Jan SchakowskyD-IL-9
Rep. Jim McGovernD-MA-3
Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4
Rep. Chaka FattahD-PA-2
Rep. John TierneyD-MA-6
Rep. Tammy BaldwinD-WI-2- Rep. Stephanie JonesD-OH-11
Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28
Rep. Sherrod BrownD-OH-13
Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-10
Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1
Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
Rep. Gregory MeeksD-NY-6
Rep. Robert BradyD-PA-1
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
Rep. Nancy PelosiD-CA-8
Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-29- Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-33
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
Rep. Xavier BecerraD-CA-30- Rep. Julia CarsonD-IN-10
Rep. Bart StupakD-MI-1
Rep. Bill DelahuntD-MA-10
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
Rep. Tom UdallD-NM-3
Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3- Rep. Thomas BarrettD-WI-5
Rep. Elijah CummingsD-MD-7- Rep. Robert BorskiD-PA-3
Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18
Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5- Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
Rep. Mark UdallD-CO-2
Rep. Diana DeGetteD-CO-1- Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonaldD-CA-37
- Rep. Eva ClaytonD-NC-1
Rep. Patrick KennedyD-RI-1
Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17- Rep. Patsy MinkD-HI-2
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17- Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
Rep. Anthony WeinerD-NY-9
Rep. Lloyd DoggettD-TX-10
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3- Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-12
- Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-32
Rep. Joe CrowleyD-NY-7- Rep. Marty MeehanD-MA-5
Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-26
Rep. Brian BairdD-WA-3
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-2
Rep. Michael McNultyD-NY-21
Rep. Tom AllenD-ME-1
Rep. Zoe LofgrenD-CA-16
Rep. Mike ThompsonD-CA-1- Rep. Lynn RiversD-MI-13
- Rep. Thomas SawyerD-OH-14
Rep. Earl BlumenauerD-OR-3
Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-29
- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-9
- Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-5
- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. Ted StricklandD-OH-6
- Rep. Albert WynnD-MD-4
Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14- Rep. Karen McCarthyD-MO-5
Rep. Grace NapolitanoD-CA-34
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
Rep. Charlie GonzalezD-TX-20- Rep. William LutherD-MN-6
Rep. Rush HoltD-NJ-12
Rep. David WuD-OR-1
Rep. Robert WexlerD-FL-19
Rep. John LarsonD-CT-1
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12
Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14- Rep. Ron KlinkD-PA-4
Rep. Bob MenendezD-NJ-13
Rep. Loretta SanchezD-CA-46
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
Rep. Ciro RodriguezD-TX-28
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5- Rep. Karen ThurmanD-FL-5
Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
Rep. Benjamin CardinD-MD-3
Rep. Darlene HooleyD-OR-5- Rep. John BaldacciD-ME-2
Rep. Neil AbercrombieD-HI-1
Rep. Brad ShermanD-CA-24
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-9- Rep. Joseph HoeffelD-PA-13
Rep. Rubén HinojosaD-TX-15- Rep. Jerry KleczkaD-WI-4
- Rep. Peter DeutschD-FL-20
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1- Rep. Robert WeygandD-RI-2
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
- Rep. Rod BlagojevichD-IL-5
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4- Rep. David MingeD-MN-2
Rep. Lois CappsD-CA-22
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND- Rep. Ken BentsenD-TX-25
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3
Rep. Silvestre ReyesD-TX-16
Rep. Nick LampsonD-TX-9
Rep. Jay InsleeD-WA-1
Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-11
Rep. Vic SnyderD-AR-2
Rep. Ron KindD-WI-3
Rep. Debbie StabenowD-MI-8
Rep. Carolyn McCarthyD-NY-4
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
Rep. Ellen TauscherD-CA-10
Rep. Shelley BerkleyD-NV-1
Rep. Bob EtheridgeD-NC-2- Rep. Jim DavisD-FL-11
- Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
- Rep. Frank MascaraD-PA-20
Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8- Rep. James MaloneyD-CT-5
Rep. Michael DoyleD-PA-18
Rep. Baron HillD-IN-9- Rep. David PhelpsD-IL-19
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27- Rep. Robert WiseD-WV-2
- Rep. Cal DooleyD-CA-20
Rep. Dennis MooreD-KS-3- Rep. Max SandlinD-TX-1
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9
Rep. Adam SmithD-WA-9- Rep. Robert ClementD-TN-5
Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-6
Rep. Marion BerryD-AR-1
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. Owen PickettD-VA-2
- Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-3
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1- Rep. Jim TurnerD-TX-2
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6
Rep. Leonard BoswellD-IA-3
Rep. John TannerD-TN-8
Rep. Allen BoydD-FL-2
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4- Rep. Michael ForbesR-NY-1
- Rep. Pat DannerD-MO-6
- Rep. Gary ConditD-CA-18
- Rep. Timothy RoemerD-IN-3
Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7- Rep. James BarciaD-MI-5
- Rep. Norman SisiskyD-VA-4
- Rep. Chris JohnD-LA-7
Rep. Bud CramerD-AL-5
Rep. Mike McIntyreD-NC-7- Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-5- Rep. Ronnie ShowsD-MS-4
- Rep. Ken LucasD-KY-4
- Rep. James TraficantD-OH-17
Rep. Ralph HallD-TX-4
Rep. Virgil GoodeD-VA-5
Republicans who voted yea(217)
- Rep. Constance MorellaR-MD-8
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-20
- Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-23
- Rep. Jack QuinnR-NY-30
- Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
- Rep. Stephen HornR-CA-38
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4- Rep. Greg GanskeR-IA-4
- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
- Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3- Rep. Amo HoughtonR-NY-31
Rep. Jim WalshR-NY-25
Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-3
Rep. Wayne GilchrestR-MD-1- Rep. Sue KellyR-NY-19
Rep. John McHughR-NY-24- Rep. Jim GreenwoodR-PA-8
Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-19- Rep. Steven KuykendallR-CA-36
- Rep. Rick LazioR-NY-2
Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2
Rep. Michael CastleR-DE- Rep. Curt WeldonR-PA-7
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
Rep. Heather WilsonR-NM-1
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4
Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-23- Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
- Rep. Mark FoleyR-FL-16
Rep. Phil EnglishR-PA-21
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-40
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18- Rep. John CookseyR-LA-5
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Bob FranksR-NJ-7
- Rep. Bob NeyR-OH-18
- Rep. Don SherwoodR-PA-10
- Rep. Doug OseR-CA-3
- Rep. Paul GillmorR-OH-5
Rep. Tom DavisR-VA-11
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-10
Rep. Jo Ann EmersonR-MO-8- Rep. John SweeneyR-NY-22
- Rep. H. CallahanR-AL-1
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6
Rep. Ray LaHoodR-IL-18- Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-22
Rep. Don YoungR-AK- Rep. Ernie FletcherR-KY-6
Rep. Mary Bono MackR-CA-44
Rep. Johnny IsaksonR-GA-6
Rep. Dave HobsonR-OH-7- Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
- Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6- Rep. Herbert BatemanR-VA-1
Rep. Brian BilbrayR-CA-49
Rep. Ed WhitfieldR-KY-1
Rep. Thomas ReynoldsR-NY-27
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5- Rep. Bill McCollumR-FL-8
- Rep. Anne NorthupR-KY-3
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. Tom CampbellR-CA-15
Rep. Judy BiggertR-IL-13- Rep. Jim KolbeR-AZ-5
Rep. John ThuneR-SD
Rep. Ken CalvertR-CA-43
Rep. Joe KnollenbergR-MI-11- Rep. George GekasR-PA-17
- Rep. Billy TauzinR-LA-3
Rep. Vernon EhlersR-MI-3- Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
- Rep. Jim TalentR-MO-2
- Rep. Bill BarrettR-NE-3
Rep. John ShimkusR-IL-20
Rep. Charlie BassR-NH-2
Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4
Rep. Kay GrangerR-TX-12
Rep. Jim McCreryR-LA-4
Rep. John PetersonR-PA-5- Rep. Tillie FowlerR-FL-4
- Rep. Richard BakerR-LA-6
Rep. Deborah PryceR-OH-15
Rep. Jerry WellerR-IL-11
Rep. Saxby ChamblissR-GA-8- Rep. Matthew MartínezD-CA-31
- Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-21
Rep. Frank LucasR-OK-6- Rep. Bill JenkinsR-TN-1
Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25- Rep. Tom BlileyR-VA-7
- Rep. Wes WatkinsR-OK-3
- Rep. Charles CanadyR-FL-12
Rep. Robin HayesR-NC-8- Rep. Thomas EwingR-IL-15
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
- Rep. George NethercuttR-WA-5
- Rep. Jay DickeyR-AR-4
Rep. Greg WaldenR-OR-2- Rep. Ron PackardR-CA-48
Rep. Robert AderholtR-AL-4
Rep. Roger WickerR-MS-1- Rep. Jim NussleR-IA-2
- Rep. Jennifer DunnR-WA-8
- Rep. James HansenR-UT-1
Rep. Mike SimpsonR-ID-2- Rep. Asa HutchinsonR-AR-3
- Rep. Henry BonillaR-TX-23
Rep. Ron LewisR-KY-2
Rep. David VitterR-LA-1- Rep. Merrill CookR-UT-2
Rep. Chip PickeringR-MS-3- Rep. Robert EhrlichR-MD-2
Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-5- Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
Rep. Rob PortmanR-OH-2
Rep. Richard BurrR-NC-5
Rep. David DreierR-CA-28
Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21
Rep. Vito FossellaR-NY-13
Rep. Nathan DealR-GA-9
Rep. John MicaR-FL-7- Rep. Duke CunninghamR-CA-51
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
Rep. Jerry MoranR-KS-1
Rep. Kenny HulshofR-MO-9- Rep. Porter GossR-FL-14
- Rep. Charlie NorwoodR-GA-10
- Rep. Ed BryantR-TN-7
Rep. Steve BuyerR-IN-5- Rep. J.C. WattsR-OK-4
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52- Rep. Edward PeaseR-IN-7
- Rep. Cass BallengerR-NC-10
- Rep. Bob RileyR-AL-3
- Rep. Jim GibbonsR-NV-2
Rep. Roy BluntR-MO-7
Rep. Terry EverettR-AL-2- Rep. Mark GreenR-WI-8
Rep. Dave WeldonR-FL-15- Rep. Scott McInnisR-CO-3
Rep. Doc HastingsR-WA-4- Rep. Jack MetcalfR-WA-2
Rep. Mark SouderR-IN-4- Rep. David McIntoshR-IN-2
- Rep. Larry CombestR-TX-19
Rep. John BoehnerR-OH-8
Rep. Lee TerryR-NE-2
Rep. Mac ThornberryR-TX-13- Rep. James RoganR-CA-27
Rep. Zach WampR-TN-3- Rep. Rick HillR-MT
Rep. Kevin BradyR-TX-8
Rep. George RadanovichR-CA-19- Rep. Dan MillerR-FL-13
Rep. Lindsey GrahamR-SC-3- Rep. Nick SmithR-MI-7
Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3
Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6- Rep. Ernest IstookR-OK-5
Rep. Barbara CubinR-WY
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
Rep. Jack KingstonR-GA-1
Rep. Roscoe BartlettR-MD-6
Rep. Paul RyanR-WI-1- Rep. Charles TaylorR-NC-11
Rep. Gary MillerR-CA-41- Rep. John KasichR-OH-12
Rep. Sue MyrickR-NC-9
Rep. John LinderR-GA-11
Rep. Joseph PittsR-PA-16- Rep. Richard ArmeyR-TX-26
- Rep. Van HillearyR-TN-4
Rep. Walter JonesR-NC-3
Rep. Todd TiahrtR-KS-4
Rep. Mac CollinsR-GA-3
Rep. Pete SessionsR-TX-5- Rep. Jim RyunR-KS-2
Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6
Rep. Dan BurtonR-IN-6
Rep. Pete HoekstraR-MI-2- Rep. Gil GutknechtR-MN-1
- Rep. Richard PomboR-CA-11
- Rep. Robert StumpR-AZ-3
- Rep. Tom DeLayR-TX-22
- Rep. J.D. HayworthR-AZ-6
- Rep. Christopher CoxR-CA-47
Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6
Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Wally HergerR-CA-2- Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
Rep. Chris CannonR-UT-3
Rep. John DoolittleR-CA-4
Rep. John SununuR-NH-1
Rep. Donald ManzulloR-IL-16
Rep. Pat ToomeyR-PA-15
Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6- Rep. Steve LargentR-OK-1
- Rep. Bob BarrR-GA-7
Rep. Matt SalmonR-AZ-1
Rep. Jim DeMintR-SC-4
Rep. Sam JohnsonR-TX-3
Rep. Steve ChabotR-OH-1
Rep. Tom TancredoR-CO-6- Rep. Joel HefleyR-CO-5
- Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-8
Rep. John ShadeggR-AZ-4
Rep. Dana RohrabacherR-CA-45
Rep. Ed RoyceR-CA-39- Rep. John HostettlerR-IN-8
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9- Rep. Bob SchafferR-CO-4
Rep. Mark SanfordR-SC-1
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 490 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee · Senate · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Communications Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.
- Oct 26, 1999Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 106-81.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 14, 1999PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 12, 1999FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 424 - 2 (Roll no. 492).House roll call 492
- FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Tauzin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Aug 5, 1999FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jun 23, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- May 12, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Communications Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Apr 14, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.