[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 28, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 58593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28990]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 22
[CC Docket No. 94-102]
Compatibility of Wireless Services with Enhanced 911
AGENCY: FCC.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The petition filed by Ad Hoc Alliance for Public Access to 911
requests the Commission to amend its Rules to mandate the provision of
911 service access by Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS)
providers. Because the issues raised in this Petition are closely
related to the current E911 rulemaking proceeding, the Commission
requests that comments on the Petition be filed in conjunction with the
proceeding in CC Docket No. 94-102. The effect of the proposed rules
would be to provide users of cellular telephones with effective and
reliable access to 911 emergency systems.
DATES: Comments must be filed on or before December 15, 1995 and reply
comments must be filed on or before January 3, 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: On October 27, 1995, the Ad Hoc Alliance for
Public Access to 911 (``Alliance'') filed a Petition for Rulemaking to
amend Part 22 of the Commission's Rules to provide users of cellular
telephones with effective and reliable access to 911 emergency systems.
Copies of Alliance's Petition are available for public inspection and
copying in the FCC Reference Center, Federal Communications Commission,
1919 M Street, N.W., Room 239, Washington, D.C. 20554. Alliance
contends that 911 cellular telephone service may be denied or
unavailable when the carrier's cellular telephone system is programmed
to block 911 calls from transient or non-system subscribers.
Specifically, Alliance requests the Commission to amend Section
22.911(b) of the Commission's Rules to require cellular carriers to
promptly connect all 911 calls without precondition. Alliance also
proposes that Section 22.933 of the Commission's Rules be amended to
require that all newly constructed mobile and portable stations be
equipped to scan all of the control cellular telephone channels
assigned to both System A and to System B, and to select and use the
channel with the strongest signal whenever a 911 call is placed.
In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted September 19, 1994,\1\
the Commission proposed to adopt rules requiring, inter alia, that
Commercial Mobile Radio Service (``CMRS'') providers offering real time
voice services include enhanced 911 (``E911'') capability as part of
their service within five years of a final Order. Under the proposed
rules, any mobile radio transmitter that is service initialized on a
radio network must be allowed to make a 911 call without a requirement
for user validation. Comments on the NPRM were filed on January 9,
1995, and reply comments were filed on March 17, 1995. Consumers First
and Alliance filed comments on the NPRM, requesting the Commission to
issue a further notice of proposed rulemaking mandating the provision
of 911 service access without regard to prior service arrangements by
CMRS providers. The Commission is currently reviewing the record on
this docket.
\1\ 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 FR 54878 (1994)
(``NPRM'').
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Because the issues raised in Alliance's Petition are closely
related to the current E911 rulemaking proceeding, the Commission
requests that comments on Alliance's Petition be filed in conjunction
with the proceeding in CC Docket No. 94-102. Interested parties may
file comments no later than December 15, 1995. Reply comments must be
filed by January 3, 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 Alliance's Petition for Rulemaking. Filing should be
accompanied by proof of service upon the petitioner and the parties in
this proceeding. The list of the parties may be obtained from the
Office of the Secretary by referencing CC Docket No. 94-102. The full
text of the Petition, the 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 be obtained from
International Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS), 2100 M Street, N.W.,
Suite 140, Washington, D.C. 20037, (202) 857-3800.
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. 95-28990 Filed 11-27-95; 8:45 am]
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