[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 200 (Thursday, October 16, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53772-53773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27582]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 20

[CC Docket No. 94-102; DA 97-2151]


Compatibility of Wireless Services With Enhanced 911

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; further request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In the wireless Enhanced 911 (E911) rulemaking proceeding, the 
Commission seeks additional comment on a September 25, 1997, ex parte 
letter (Joint Letter) filed by two wireless industry groups and three 
public safety community groups. In the Joint Letter, the Cellular 
Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), the Personal 
Communications Industry Association (PCIA), the Association of Public-
Safety Communications Officials-International, Inc. (APCO), the 
National Emergency Number Association (NENA), and the National 
Association of State Nine-One-One Administrators (NASNA) propose 
modifications to terms used in this proceeding and rules for processing 
911 calls and permitting Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) to 
choose which 911 calls they will receive. The letter also supports an 
extension of the compliance date for implementation of 911 service over 
digital wireless services for TTY users. Additional comment on these 
responses is sought to assist the Commission in determining whether to 
revise the Commission's Rules. The effect of revising the Commission's 
Rules would be to clarify the implementation of basic 911 services to 
wireless customers, including people with hearing or speech 
disabilities.

DATES: Comments must be filed by October 17,1997, and reply comments 
must be filed by October 27, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Won Kim, Policy Division, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, (202) 418-1310.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Additional Comment Sought in Wireless Enhanced 911 Reconsideration 
Proceeding Regarding Rules and Schedules

    1. In the wireless Enhanced 911 (E911) rulemaking proceeding, the 
Commission seeks additional comment on a September 25, 1997, ex parte 
letter (Joint Letter) filed by two wireless industry groups and three 
public safety community groups. In the Joint Letter, the Cellular 
Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), the Personal 
Communications Industry Association (PCIA), the Association of Public-
Safety Communications Officials-International, Inc. (APCO), the 
National Emergency Number Association (NENA), and the National 
Association of State Nine-One-One Administrators (NASNA) propose 
modifications to the 911 rules and support an extension of the 
compliance date for implementation of TTY compatibility requirements. 
The full text of the Joint Letter is available for inspection and 
duplication during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, 
Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW., Room 239, 
Washington, DC 20554. Copies may also be obtained from International 
Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS), 1231 20th Street, NW., Washington, 
DC 20036, (202) 857-3800.
    2. Pursuant to Sec. 1.415(d) of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 
1.415(d), additional comment is hereby sought in the wireless E911 
reconsideration proceeding 1 concerning issues raised in an 
ex parte presentation filed by several parties in the proceeding. In 
the E911 Report and Order, the Commission established rules requiring 
wireless carriers to implement basic 911 and E911 services.
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    \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 (November 2, 
1994); Revision of the Commission's Rules to Ensure Compatibility 
with Enhanced 911 Emergency Calling Systems, CC Docket No. 94-102, 
Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 61 FR 
40348, 40374 (August 2, 1996) (E911 Report and Order), recon. 
pending.
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    3. In a September 25, 1997, ex parte letter (Joint Letter), two 
wireless industry groups (the Cellular Telecommunications Industry 
Association (CTIA) and the Personal Communications Industry Association 
(PCIA)) and three public safety community groups (the Association of 
Public-Safety Communications Officials-International, Inc., the 
National Emergency Number Association, and the National Association of 
State Nine-One-One Administrators) propose modifications to terms used 
in the E911 Report and Order and rules for processing 911 calls and 
permitting Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) to choose which 911 
calls they will receive. The letter also supports an extension of the 
compliance date for implementation of 911 service over digital wireless 
services for TTY/TDD users from October 1, 1997, to April 1, 
1999,2 and requests that the Commission refrain from 
addressing certain additional issues until the industry has had the 
opportunity to fully consider such issues in meetings with the relevant 
parties.
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    \2\ See also PCIA, Request for Extension of Time to Implement 
E911/TTY Compatibility Requirement for Wireless Operators (Aug. 27, 
1997); CTIA Ex Parte Filing (Sept. 23, 1997).
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    4. We have also received other ex parte comments addressing issues 
raised in the Joint Letter. In a September 29, 1997, letter, 
Congresswoman Anna Eshoo provided the Commission with her initial 
assessment of the recommendations made in the Joint Letter and 
reiterated her view that ``it is in the public's best interest that all 
wireless 911 calls should be passed through to the public safety 
authority.'' On September 30, 1997, the Ad Hoc Alliance for Public 
Access to 911 also filed an ex parte letter opposing the Joint 
Letter.3
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    \3\ Following the Joint Letter, CTIA filed another ex parte 
letter dated September 26, 1997, concerning carrier liability with 
respect to E911 calls. We have also received certain ex parte 
filings prior to the Joint Letter which relate to the issues raised 
in that letter. For example, with respect to the proposed 18-month 
extension of the TTY compliance date, the National Association of 
the Deaf and the Consumer Action Network oppose it as too long and 
propose additional obligations. Opposition to Request for Extension 
of Eighteen Months to Implement E911/TTY Compatibility Requirement 
for Wireless Operators (Sept. 11, 1997). Nextel Communications, on 
the other hand, supports the requested extension. Motion in Support 
of Request for Extension of time to Implement E911/TTY Compatibility 
Requirement for Wireless Operators (Sept. 9, 1997).
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    5. The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau took note of the pending 
petitions for reconsideration and ex parte filings and on September 30, 
1997,

[[Page 53773]]

adopted an Order staying the provisions and effective date of 
Secs. 20.18(a)-(c) inclusive of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 
20.18(a)-(c), which would require wireless carriers to forward certain 
911 calls to PSAPs, including calls from TTY devices. The stay defers 
the effective date of those rules from October 1, 1997, to November 30, 
1997, in order to permit the Commission to complete its review.
    6. Pursuant to applicable procedures set forth in Secs. 1.145(d) 
and 1.419 of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 1.415(d), 1.419, interested 
parties may file comments on the issues raised in the Joint Letter no 
later than October 17, 1997. Reply comments may be filed no later than 
October 27, 1997. All relevant and timely comments will be considered 
by the Commission before final action is taken in this proceeding. To 
file formally in this proceeding, participants must file an original 
and five copies of all comments. If participants want each Commissioner 
to receive a personal copy of their comments, an original and nine 
copies must be filed. All comments should be filed with the Office of 
the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW., 
Room 222, Washington, DC 20554, referencing CC Docket No. 94-102.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 20

    Communications common carriers.

Federal Communications Commission.
Daniel B. Phythyon,
Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
[FR Doc. 97-27582 Filed 10-15-97; 8:45 am]
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