HB2870: Cellular telephones; encouraged to program with ICE numbers.

HOUSE BILL NO. 2870
Offered January 10, 2007
Prefiled January 10, 2007
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 15 of Title 56 a section numbered 56-484.19, relating to mobile telecommunications service providers; encouraging programming of "ICE" numbers.
Patron-- McEachin
Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 15 of Title 56 a section numbered 56-484.19, as follows:

§ 56-484.19. Encouraging programming of ICE numbers.

A. As used in this section, "ICE number" means a telephone number that is programmed into a mobile telecommunications device of a CMRS subscriber and identified in the device as "ICE," in order to permit a firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, rescue worker, or ambulance personnel responding to a medical or public safety emergency, when the CMRS subscriber is nonresponsive or impaired, to contact the person or persons who the subscriber desires to be contacted in case of an emergency, by placing a call to the contact or contacts designated as "ICE" in the device's memory.

B. The Board shall establish criteria for a program, to be implemented by CMRS providers, pursuant to which a CMRS provider encourages its subscribers voluntarily to program one or more ICE numbers into their mobile telecommunications device. The program includes a component for educating its subscribers about the benefits of having an ICE number programmed into the device.

C. Each CMRS provider shall implement a program that complies with the criteria established by the Board pursuant to subsection B, in accordance with such timetable as the Board shall adopted.