Tony Hall: “This is an open rule. It will allow full and fair debate on H.R. 438, which is the Wireless Communications and Public…”

“This is an open rule. It will allow full and fair debate on H.R. 438, which is the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999. As my colleague has described, this rule will provide for 1 hour of general debate to be equally divided and controlled by the chairman and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Commerce. The rule permits amendments under the 5-minute rule, which is the normal amending process in the House. All Members on both sides of the aisle will have the opportunity to offer amendments. In most parts of the country a caller from a standard telephone can call 911 to ask for emergency assistance or to report a crime. That is not so from the cellular or other wireless telephones. The Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999 designates 911 as the universal emergency number for both wireless and wire line telephone calls. This will improve public safety by eliminating confusion over what number to call for emergency services. This is especially important to travelers who do not know the emergency number for the place they are visiting.”