96-4229. Compatibility of Wireless Services With Enhanced 911  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 1996)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Pages 6963-6964]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-4229]
    
    
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
    47 CFR Part 20
    
    [CC Docket No. 94-102, DA 96-198]
    
    
    Compatibility of Wireless Services With Enhanced 911
    
    AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
    
    ACTION: Proposed rule.
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    SUMMARY: The Commission seeks additional comment in wireless Enhanced 
    911 (E911) rulemaking proceeding. On February 13, 1996, the Cellular 
    Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) and three principal 
    public safety organizations--National Emergency Number Association 
    (NENA), Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO), 
    and National Association of State Nine One One Administrators (NASNA)--
    jointly filed a Consensus Agreement as an ex parte presentation, urging 
    the Commission to adopt their agreement in this proceeding. Additional 
    comment is sought to assist the Commission in determining whether to 
    adopt the Consensus Agreement, in whole or in part. The effect of 
    adopting the Consensus Agreement would be to bring the timely 
    deployment of E911 services to wireless customers, in two phases, 
    within five years after adoption of final rules.
    
    DATES: Comments must be filed on or before March 4, 1996 and reply 
    comments must be filed on or before March 11, 1996.
    
    ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Won Kim, Policy Division, Wireless 
    Telecommunications Bureau, (202) 418-1310.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    February 16, 1996.
    
    Additional Comment Sought: Commission Seeks Additional Comment in 
    Wireless Enhanced 911 Rulemaking Proceeding Regarding ``Consensus 
    Agreement'' Between Wireless Industry Representatives and Public Safety 
    Groups
    
    [CC Docket No. 94-102]
    
        Comments Due: March 4, 1996.
        Replies Due: March 11, 1996.
    
        On February 13, 1996, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry 
    Association (CTIA) and three principal public safety organizations--
    National Emergency Number Association (NENA), Association of Public-
    Safety Communications Officials (APCO), and National Association of 
    State Nine One One Administrators (NASNA)--jointly filed an ex parte 
    presentation titled ``Public Safety-Wireless Industry Consensus: 
    Wireless Compatibility Issues, CC Docket 94-102,'' urging the 
    Commission to adopt their agreement in this proceeding.\1\ The full 
    text of the Consensus Agreement (including exhibits), the NPRM,\2\ 
    comments, and reply comments are available for inspection and 
    duplication during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, 
    Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W., Room 239, 
    Washington, D.C. 20554. Copies may also be obtained from International 
    Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS), 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, 
    Washington, D.C. 20037, (202) 857-3800.
    
        \1\ ``Public Safety-Wireless Industry Consensus: Wireless 
    Compatibility Issues, CC Docket 94-102,'' filed by CTIA, NENA, APCO, 
    and NASNA on February 13, 1996 (``Consensus Agreement'').
        \2\ See Revision of the Commission's Rules to Ensure 
    Compatibility with Enhanced 911 Emergency Calling Systems, CC Docket 
    No. 94-102, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 59 Fed. Reg. 54878 (1994) 
    (``NPRM'').
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        Pursuant to Section 1.415(d) of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 
    Sec. 1.415(d), the Commission seeks additional comment in wireless 
    Enhanced 911 (E911) rulemaking proceeding. Specifically, the Commission 
    seeks comment on the Consensus Agreement filed by wireless industry 
    representatives and public safety groups. In the NPRM, the Commission 
    proposed to adopt rules requiring, inter alia, that Commercial Mobile 
    Radio Service (CMRS) providers of real time voice services offer E911 
    access and features to mobile radio callers in three phases within five 
    years after adoption of final rules. Comments on the NPRM were filed on 
    January 9, 1995, and reply comments were filed on March 17, 1995. 
    Although the comments supported the Commission's broad goal to require 
    wireless compatibility with E911, the views of wireless service 
    industry and public safety organizations differed, inter alia, 
    regarding the proposed phase-in schedules for various E911 features. In 
    order to address these differences, CTIA and public safety 
    organizations initiated negotiations regarding wireless compatibility 
    issues and related matters. The Consensus Agreement outlines the 
    consensus reached on issues regarding wireless compatibility with E911 
    systems as a result of these negotiations.
        Additional comment is sought to assist the Commission in 
    determining whether to adopt the Consensus Agreement, in whole or in 
    part. The Consensus Agreement proposes a two-step implementation 
    schedule for E911. In Phase I, within twelve or eighteen months after 
    the adoption of the Order, the Agreement proposes implementation of 
    cell site information, calling party automatic number identification 
    (ANI), 911 availability from any service initialized mobile radio 
    handset, 911 access for speech and hearing-impaired callers using text 
    telephone (TTY) devices, and call-back capability. Under Phase II, 
    within five years after the adoption of the Order, the Agreement 
    proposes to require achievement of automatic location of wireless 
    callers within 125 meters (derived using root mean square 
    calculations). In addition, the Consensus Agreement requests the 
    Commission: (1) to declare that state and local 911 fees and taxes are 
    not barred as a matter of law and that such fees and taxes should not 
    discriminate between wireline and wireless carriers; and (2) to resolve 
    carrier and public safety legal liability issues. The Consensus 
    Agreement also suggests consumer education rather than equipment 
    labeling to inform customers regarding wireless compatibility with E911 
    features. Commenters are invited to address any legal, factual, and 
    policy issues associated with the request to adopt the Consensus 
    Agreement.
        Comments on these additional issues must be filed no later than 
    March 4, 1996. Reply comments must be filed by March 11, 1996. All 
    comments should be filed with the Office of the Secretary, Federal 
    Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W., Room 222, Washington, 
    D.C. 20554, referencing CC Docket No. 94-102 and the Consensus 
    Agreement. Filings should be accompanied by proof of service upon the 
    parties in this proceeding. The list of the parties may be obtained 
    from the 
    
    [[Page 6964]]
    Office of the Secretary by referencing CC Docket No. 94-102.
        For further information, contact Won Kim at (202) 418-1310, 
    Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Policy Division.
    
    Federal Communications Commission.
    William F. Caton,
    Acting Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 96-4229 Filed 2-22-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
    
    

Document Information

Published:
02/23/1996
Department:
Federal Communications Commission
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Proposed rule.
Document Number:
96-4229
Dates:
Comments must be filed on or before March 4, 1996 and reply comments must be filed on or before March 11, 1996.
Pages:
6963-6964 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
CC Docket No. 94-102, DA 96-198
PDF File:
96-4229.pdf
CFR: (1)
47 CFR 1.415(d)