Response to Senator Pat Roberts

Here is the letter that I sent in response to Senator Pat Roberts. I also copied others to point out the importance of federal legislation and support, as well as my intent to pursue state-level legislation.

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RE: Emergency 911 Calls Should NOT be Public Information

Senator Pat Roberts
109 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-1605
Transmitted via fax: (202) 224-3514

Dear Senator Roberts,

Thank you for your response to my letter concerning 911 calls and privacy. I will take your advice and contact Kansas Attorney General Phil Kline in Topeka.

However, I believe that federal legislation is in order in addition to any state legislation for the following reasons:
1. Transportation of recordings across state lines. If anyone takes a recording of a 911 call in Kansas, what is to stop them from taking it to Missouri or any other state?
2. Broadcast Communication is federally regulated. The Federal Communications Commission would have jurisdiction if these recordings are broadcast on television and/or radio.

Television, radio, and the internet are three of my primary concerns. Two of those concerns clearly fall into the zone of federal regulation.

Cordially,


Paul D. McDonald

cc:
President George W. Bush
Congressman Dennis Moore (KS)
Kansas Attorney General Phil Kline

Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) Responds

Thank you to Senator Pat Roberts, who responded to my campaign. I found his letter to be informative, in that 911 calls are not covered by "federal" laws but by "state" laws.

I have already contacted the State Legislature in Kansas. Since I live within 2 miles of Missouri, I will also contact legislators in Missouri as well. 48 more states to go!

But in addition, the State of Kansas cannot have jurisdiction if recordings are taken outside the state and played there... or can they? Federal legislation would be needed for transportation of recordings across state borders.

Also, federal regulation needs to be brought in for any broadcast of the recordings through the Federal Communications Commission.

Background Information: "The Runaway Bride"

Yeah, it was a sad story. Yeah, she shouldn't have done it. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.

But you know what made things even a little worse? It was when YAHOO! News Service got their hands on the recording of the 911 call and posted it on the internet.

They posted a 911 call on the internet for amusement.

Slow news day? Probably. Still, it was a bad idea. It had to be embarrasing for the gal, she was in enough hot water as it was... but it got me thinking... what if I call 911? Does it end up on the internet?

So I wrote a letter to Congress and the President of the United States. Here is that letter.

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May 2, 2005


RE: Emergency 911 Calls Should NOT be Public Information


To All United States Congress Persons, Senators, and the President of the United States:

Today in Yahoo News, I see the following headline:

“VIDEO: Hear Runaway Bride’s Fake Phone Call: ABC News - After her tearful appearance in court, the tape of Jennifer Wilbanks' "call for help" to her fiancé has been released.”

There is no reason that this 911 call, or any 911 call, should be released to the public for the purposes of amusement. It makes me less likely to want to call 911 in an emergency out of fear that I might end up on the Internet or on the evening news.

Cordially,


Paul D. McDonald

Laws and Sausages

They say that there are two things that you never want to learn how they are made: Laws and Sausages. If you want to learn how to make sausages, please visit my recipe blog.

This blog is going to track my work towards the creation of a new law: The protection of privacy of 911 calls. The purpose is to prevent 911 calls from being passed around through various media for amusement.

Join the ride!