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To: golfinvestor who wrote (104665)	9/13/2001 9:55:15 PM
From: golfinvestor	Respond to of 152472

Wireless Behind E911 Curve, But In Demand Following Terrorist Attack September 13, 2001 Vol. 5 Iss. 175 WASHINGTON -- Federal lawmakers and a national public safety communications group on Tuesday faulted the wireless industry for delays in deploying enhanced 911 (E911) capabilities, but moments later wireless service became indispensable for thousands when Capitol Hill buildings were evacuated after terrorists attacked the Pentagon and in New York City. Much of the nation's capital, as well as much of the country, was shut down in the aftermath of attacks in which hijacked planes were rammed into the Pentagon building and the World Trade Center. "We do know that lines were jammed from landline to wireless," said Cindy Lorow, director of association operations for the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials-International. "Just calling on anything was a problem." During the Tuesday morning press conference, lawmakers criticized U.S. wireless carriers for asking the Federal Communications Commission for waivers to the Oct 1 deadline for them to have in place technology that can transmit location information to emergency personnel from 911 calls made on their networks. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) said he doesn't agree with allowing those carriers to miss the deadline, but recognizes the FCC isn't likely to deny the requests. "It's time to get serious about this," Burns said during the conference hosted by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). "Wouldn't it be the best [public relations] for the wireless companies to put this on the front burner and really make it happen?" Burns added. According to NENA's Report Card to the National on 911 services, the wireless industry hasn't made it happen. Less than 50 percent of the U.S. population is in markets where public safety answering points (PSAPs) are able to determine wireless callers' phone numbers. The report also said nationwide implementation of location technology for wireless 911 calls wouldn't be accomplished for four years. By that time, the percentage of 911 calls made from wireless phones will double from the existing 25 percent level. "The wireless E-911 is still a work in progress and there's four years to go before completion," said Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas). "We need to do much better than that." The FCC required wireless carriers to be able to transmit call-back information to PSAPs starting in April 1999, but PSAPs in many areas have not been upgraded to handle that sort of data. Similarly, providing location information for wireless 911 calls requires PSAPs