Fiscal Impact Analysis

Emergency Communications Reliability and 911 Protection Act of 2026

Executive Summary

The Emergency Communications Reliability and 911 Protection Act of 2026 is expected to have a moderate federal fiscal cost, partially offset by:

Reallocation of existing federal telecommunications funds
Civil penalties collected under the Act
Reduced long‑term costs associated with emergency‑response failures

Over a 10‑year budget window, the bill’s net federal cost is estimated at $1.7–$2.1 billion, assuming full implementation of NG911 modernization, rural EMS staffing support, and FECOO operations.

Direct Federal Spending

1. NG911 Modernization Grants (Title IV)

Authorized: $1,000,000,000
Estimated 10‑Year Outlays: $850M–$1B

Supports CAD, GIS, NG911 routing, text‑to‑911, and location‑accuracy upgrades.

2. Rural EMS & PSAP Staffing Grants (Title V)

Authorized: $500,000,000
Estimated 10‑Year Outlays: $400M–$500M

Helps rural and underserved counties meet 24/7 EMS and dispatch staffing requirements.

3. FECOO Operations & Oversight (Title VII)

Authorized: $150,000,000
Estimated 10‑Year Outlays: $120M–$150M

Covers audits, inspections, enforcement, grant administration, and technical assistance.

4. 911 Reliability Dashboard & Reporting Systems (Title VI)

Authorized: $50,000,000
Estimated 10‑Year Outlays: $40M–$50M

Funds public transparency tools, outage‑reporting infrastructure, and whistleblower portal.

Total Direct Federal Outlays (10‑Year Window)

Category	Estimated Cost
NG911 Modernization	$850M–$1B
Rural EMS/PSAP Staffing	$400M–$500M
FECOO Operations	$120M–$150M
Dashboard & Reporting	$40M–$50M
Total	$1.41B–$1.70B

Offsets & Savings

1. Reallocation of Existing Federal Telecom Funds

The bill allows use of existing funds from USF, RDOF, BEAD, and successor programs. Estimated offset: $300M–$500M over 10 years.

2. Civil Penalties (Title VII)

Penalties for outage non‑reporting, backup‑power failures, routing failures, staffing violations, and false reporting generate revenue. Estimated revenue: $150M–$300M over 10 years.

3. Avoided Costs from Emergency Failures

Improved reliability reduces wrongful‑death settlements, medical costs from delayed response, infrastructure damage, and multi‑agency overtime. Estimated savings: $100M–$200M over 10 years.

Net Federal Fiscal Impact (10‑Year Window)

Category	Amount
Total Outlays	$1.41B–$1.70B
Offsets (Telecom Funds)	–$300M to –$500M
Civil Penalty Revenue	–$150M to –$300M
Avoided Costs	–$100M to –$200M
Net Fiscal Impact	$1.7B–$2.1B

State & Local Fiscal Impact

Costs

Upgrading PSAP systems (partially federally funded)
Meeting 24/7 staffing requirements
EMS unit staffing and training
Compliance reporting

Estimated state/local cost: $50M–$150M over 10 years (after federal grants).

Savings

Fewer 911 outages
Faster EMS response
Reduced liability exposure
Lower overtime costs
Improved mutual‑aid coordination

Estimated state/local savings: $100M–$250M over 10 years.

Economic Impact

Positive Impacts

Job creation in EMS, dispatch, and telecom infrastructure
Increased rural investment
Reduced mortality and morbidity
Improved public safety and resilience
Lower long‑term healthcare and emergency‑response costs

Potential Negative Impacts

Compliance costs for carriers and some local governments
Short‑term staffing challenges in rural counties

Risk Factors & Sensitivities

Higher‑than‑expected rural staffing needs could increase grant outlays.
Carrier noncompliance could increase civil‑penalty revenue.
Faster NG911 adoption could accelerate spending.
Severe weather events could increase outage‑mitigation costs.

Bottom Line

The Act represents a targeted federal investment in critical emergency‑communications infrastructure, with meaningful offsets and long‑term savings. It trades modest federal spending for substantial gains in public safety, reliability, and transparency.