988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9814 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9814

To instruct the Federal Communications Commission to initiate a notice
    of inquiry and instruct the Government Accountability Office to
   complete a study and report providing detailed recommendations to
 address challenges to transmitting geolocation information with calls
    to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 21, 2026

       Mr. Neguse (for himself, Mr. Kean, Mrs. Houchin, and Mr.
 Krishnamoorthi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
                  the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To instruct the Federal Communications Commission to initiate a notice
    of inquiry and instruct the Government Accountability Office to
   complete a study and report providing detailed recommendations to
 address challenges to transmitting geolocation information with calls
    to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``988 Lifeline Location Improvement
Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) 911 system service provider.--The term ``911 system
        service provider'' has the meaning given the term ``covered 911
        service provider'' in section 9.19(a)(4) of title 47, Code of
        Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
            (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
                Transportation of the Senate;
                    (B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
                Pensions of the Senate; and
                    (C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
                House of Representatives.
            (3) Dispatchable location.--The term ``dispatchable
        location'' has the meaning given that term in section 9.3 of
        title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor
        regulation.
            (4) Emergency communications center.--The term ``emergency
        communications center'' means--
                    (A) a facility that is designed to receive a 911
                request for emergency assistance; or
                    (B) a public safety answering point, as defined in
                section 9.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations,
                or any successor regulation.
            (5) Telecommunications service provider.--The term
        ``telecommunications service provider'' has the meaning given
        the term ``service provider'' in section 52.5(e) of title 47,
        Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.

SEC. 3. NOTICE OF INQUIRY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 270 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall
initiate a notice of inquiry to address the challenges to transmitting
geolocation information with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis
Lifeline.
    (b) Evaluation Considerations.--In evaluating responses to the
notice of inquiry under subsection (a), the Federal Communications
Commission shall consider--
            (1) legal authorities with respect to mandating the
        transmission of geolocation information, including dispatchable
        location information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis
        Lifeline;
            (2) the protection of consumer privacy with respect to
        mandating the transmission of geolocation information,
        including dispatchable location information, with calls to the
        988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline;
            (3) the feasibility and technical implementation standards
        for telecommunications service providers, 911 system service
        providers, public safety answering points, and local crisis
        centers with respect to mandating the transmission of
        geolocation information;
            (4) an assessment of the potential costs, funding
        requirements, and options for recovery of costs for
        telecommunications service providers, the 988 Suicide and
        Crisis Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line, and local crisis
        centers with respect to mandating the transmission of
        geolocation information;
            (5) technical challenges associated with mandating the
        transmission of geolocation information for users who access
        the 988 American Sign Language line through direct video
        calling and video relay service; and
            (6) the technologies currently available to provide
        dispatchable location information and methods for transferring
        location information from 988 centers to 911 centers.

SEC. 4. GAO REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall conduct a study and submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a report on the opportunities and challenges related to
implementing geolocation for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline,
including--
            (1) policy considerations regarding consumer privacy and
        legal authority with respect to mandating transmission of
        geolocation information, including dispatchable location
        information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline;
            (2) technical implementation standards for
        telecommunications service providers, 911 system service
        providers, emergency communications centers, and local crisis
        centers; and
            (3) the potential recovery of costs or additional funding
        requirements for telecommunications service providers, the 988
        Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line, and
        local crisis centers.
    (b) Consultation.--In conducting the study under subsection (a),
the Comptroller General of the United States shall consult with--
            (1) representatives from--
                    (A) telecommunications service providers or
                organizations that represent telecommunications service
                providers;
                    (B) handset manufacturers or organizations that
                represent handset manufacturers;
                    (C) emergency communications centers or
                organizations that represent emergency communications
                centers;
                    (D) 911 system service providers or organizations
                that represent 911 system service providers;
                    (E) State government, including those representing
                low population States;
                    (F) local government, including those representing
                small and rural communities;
                    (G) the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline;
                    (H) local crisis centers or organizations that
                represent local crisis centers;
                    (I) the Veterans Crisis Line;
                    (J) the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
                Administration;
                    (K) mental health services organizations; and
                    (L) community mental health centers; and
            (2) individuals with experience providing services for
        people who are deaf or hard of hearing or have hearing loss,
        such as providing access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
        through direct video calling and video relay service.
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