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To: Dave who wrote (8101)	11/11/2000 2:40:59 PM
From: Ruffian	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 34857

Not So Fast; <On a cautious note, Verizon says that its Nov. 9 report doesn’t constitute “a final or irrevocable commitment” to the technologies that the company will use. Despite the apparent lack of commitment, Verizon’s Linskey says, “Bottom line, we’ll be ready.”> E911 Plans: Is That Your Final Answer? By Allyson Vaughan WASHINGTON—It’s the kind of tentative response that begs the likes of game show host Regis Philbin to ask, “Is that your final answer?” When it comes to carriers’ enhanced 911 plans, the industry’s response is by no means definitive, because carriers can choose one solution and then change their plans if they later find a better technology. Still, faced with the FCC’s deadline for answers, carriers are identifying a variety of handset- and network-based solutions. Sprint PCS chose a handset solution from Qualcomm, while Verizon Wireless opted for a network solution. Cingular Wireless plans to deploy both. Industry experts have long debated the merits of network solutions vs. handset solutions and the costs of deployment. For carriers, such as Sprint PCS, that choose a handset solution, the FCC’s mandate says 67 percent of handsets must be able to be traced within 50 meters. Sprint PCS says it tested the GPS handset technology from Qualcomm’s SnapTrack unit earlier this year, and it was able to locate callers to within less than 30 meters–20 meters closer than the FCC mandate. Under the FCC mandate, carriers have until Oct. 1, 2001, to complete the second phase of E911, which requires more precise location data to be transferred with a call so dispatchers can trace a caller’s location more easily. Meanwhile, Verizon Wireless has opted for a network-based solution, but the carrier still plans to evaluate handset solutions as possible alternative location technologies. The network-based solution will require upgrades at cell sites and switches, but no upgrades are required for wireless handsets, which can be reconfigured with over-the-air software programming. “Certainly, there is the customer benefit of not having to change the handset in the near future,” says Verizon spokeswoman Andrea Linskey. While carriers appear committed to meeting the FCC mandate, it clearly is a challenge because of the expense and complexity involved with finding a suitable remedy. “All I know is we’re proceeding as fast as we can,” says Andrew Clegg, manager of strategic technology at Cingular Wireless. “I wish we had had more time. The technologies have not had time to perfect themselves.” Verizon says “substantial work” still is needed for both network- and handset-based solutions and that the timing will depend on the deployment requests from public-safety answering points and the commercial availability of the equipment, which will be needed in large quantities. On a cautious note, Verizon says that its Nov. 9 report doesn’t constitute “a final or irrevocable commitment” to the technologies that the company will use. Despite the apparent lack of commitment, Verizon’s Linskey says, “Bottom line, we’ll be ready.” In other words, the final answer still is waiting in the wings.