[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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