The Wireless Ship Act was passed by US Congress in 1910, requiring all ships of the United States traveling over two-hundred miles off the coast and carrying over fifty passengers to be equipped with wireless radio equipment with a range of one-hundred miles. In 1912, the British luxury ship, Titanic, sunk and killed about 1500 people. Although many people believe this historical event to be a severe tragedy, the wireless technology onboard the ship helped save over 700 lives. The Titanic's sinking caused the Congress of the United States to pass the Radio Act of 1912. The Congress of the United States is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States of America. ... 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... RMS Titanic was an Olympic class passenger liner that collided with an iceberg and sank in 1912. ... Following the 1912 disaster of the RMS Titanic, which was exacerbated by inept radio operators, the United States Congress passed the Radio Act of 1912. ...