[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