S. 3199 — 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2026

This section defines terms used in the Act, including "911 system service provider" (with the meaning given to "covered 911 service provider" in 47 CFR 9.19(a)(4)), "appropriate committees of Congress" (referring to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce), "dispatchable location" (as defined in 47 CFR 9.3), "emergency communications center" (a facility that receives 911 requests for emergency assistance or a public safety answering point as defined in 47 CFR 9.3), and "telecommunications service provider" (with the meaning given to "service provider" in 47 CFR 52.5(e)).

This section directs the Federal Communications Commission to initiate a notice of inquiry not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act to address challenges to transmitting geolocation information with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. In evaluating responses, the Commission must consider legal authorities for mandating such transmission, consumer privacy protections, feasibility and technical standards for providers and crisis centers, potential costs and funding options, technical challenges for users of the 988 American Sign Language line via direct video calling and video relay service, and currently available technologies for providing dispatchable location information and transferring it to 911 centers.

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study and submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees within 180 days of enactment on opportunities and challenges of implementing geolocation for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The report must address policy considerations on consumer privacy and legal authority for mandating transmission of geolocation and dispatchable location information, technical implementation standards for telecommunications providers and emergency centers, and potential cost recovery or additional funding needs for the 988 Lifeline, Veterans Crisis Line, and local centers.