FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 24, 2008

Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Hails Passage of New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act

Legislation Will Improve Capabilities and Functionality

Arlington, Va. –The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leader in advocacy, standards development, business development and intelligence for the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, applauded the passage of a key communications modernization bill today by the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 3403, the “New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008.” The bill was passed by the Senate last week.  

"We thank the Congress for acting on this critical legislation which will improve both the capabilities and functionality of public safety communications systems, by providing network operators with the tools necessary to relay accurate information to first responders in times of emergencies and national disasters," said TIA President Grant Seiffert.

The bill passing the House tonight, H.R. 3403, is sponsored by Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) and the Senate version, S. 428, sponsored by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), is a significant step toward making America's IP-based services first-responder friendly.

"Not only does this legislation facilitate the transition to competitive IP-based products and services," Seiffert said, "but it recognizes the need for public safety communications no matter what type of communications technology is being used. Enactment of this bill will allow a full transition to a 21st century emergency telecommunications infrastructure. We urge President Bush to sign this bill into law as soon as possible.”

For more information, please contact Mike Snyder at msnyder@tiaonline.org.

About TIA

Currently in its 84th year, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry through standards development, advocacy, business opportunities, market intelligence and world-wide environmental regulatory analysis. Thousands of companies and individuals work through TIA to enhance the business environment for telecommunications, broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite, unified communications, emergency communications and the greening of technology. TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

TIA’s Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ACS, ADC, ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, ANDA Networks, ArrayComm, AttivaCorp, Avaya, Bechtel Communications, Inc., Cam Communications, Cisco Systems, Corning Incorporated, Ericsson, Inc., Graybar, Harris Stratex, Henkels & McCoy, Intel Corporation, LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nortel, OneChip Photonics Inc., Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., Verari Systems, Westell Technologies, Inc. and Zebra Technologies Corporation. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates, ILS Technology, Orca Systems and Telcordia Technologies.

TIA membership enhances the ability of companies to prepare for the future of communications.  TIA brings people and businesses together by helping the industry overcome technical and political barriers to communications. Visit www.tiaonline.org for details.

##