Michael, more on the 911 story.
FCC REQUIRES WIRELESS CARRIERS TO RELAY ALMOST ALL 911 CALLS
12/02/97
TR Daily
Copyright (c) 1997 Telecommunications Reports International, Inc.
The FCC late yesterday issued an order mandating that most wireless carriers transmit almost all "911" emergency calls to public authorities. The Commission also upheld its schedule for
the introduction of enhanced 911 (E911) service by wireless carriers. Generally, the agency accepted industry comments offered this summer (TR, Aug 4) calling for a simpler approach to
implementing E911 service.
The FCC adopted a reconsideration order in Common Carrier docket 94-102 that requires covered wireless carriers to transmit all wireless 911 calls -- including calls from nonsubscribers. The new rules direct wireless carriers to transmit calls without
regard to validation procedures intended to identify and intercept calls from non-subscribers. The modified rules temporarily suspend enforcement of the requirement that wireless carriers provide 911 access to text telephone (TTY) subscribers. That requirement will be delayed from April 1998 to October 1998 to enable the wireless industry to work out problems with transmission of 911 calls from TTYs linked to digital wireless systems.
The Commission also changed the definition of a "covered Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR)carrier" for 911 purposes to include only providers of real-time, two-way interconnected voice service using intelligent switching capability and seamless handoff of
customer calls. The definition change, which had been proposed by the American Mobile Telecommunications Association, will exempt SMR licensees that do not offer interconnection to the public switched telephone network from the 911 and E911 requirements.
The new rules uphold earlier requirements that carriers provide automatic number identification (ANI) and cell site information on 911 calls to safety authorities. Such information allows safety authorities to locate and call back 911 callers. However, the Commission said 911 calls from nonvalidated phones would not have to transmit ANI and cell site information.
Carriers will be required to provide the first phase of E911, service, including the provision of ANI and cell site information, beginning April 1, 1998, as previously planned. The second phase of the E911 rules, requiring carriers to pinpoint mobile
units within 125 meters, will kick in Oct. 1, 2001. The Commission rejected a request by Nextel Communications, Inc., to delay the implementation of E911 service for two years. The company said the nation's existing crazy-quilt system of financing 911 services is totally unworkable for wireless carriers.
Copyright c 1997 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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