[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 190 (Thursday, October 1, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52665-52666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26233]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 20

[CC Docket No. 94-102; DA 98-1936]


Compatibility of Wireless Services With Enhanced 911

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Commission seeks additional comment in wireless Enhanced 
911 (E911) rulemaking proceeding with respect to an ex parte 
presentation filed by Ad Hoc Alliance for Public Access to 911 
(Alliance) on September 17, 1998. In its ex parte filing and its 
accompanying engineering report, Alliance has presented an approach 
under which the Commission would require that, if the signal from the 
user's provider is ``inadequate'' at the time a 911 call is placed 
through the use of an analog cellular handset, then the handset must 
have the capability to select automatically the strongest available 
compatible channel of communications for purpose of completing the 911 
call. Additional comment is sought to assist the Commission in 
determining whether to adopt the approach presented by the Alliance in 
its September 17 ex parte filing. The effect of adopting the Alliance 
approach would be to improve reliability of 911 services to wireless 
customers.

DATES: Comments must be filed on or before October 7, 1998 and reply 
comments must be filed on or before October 19, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M St. N.W. Room 222, 
Washington, D.C. 20554

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 17, 1998, Ad Hoc Alliance for 
Public Access to 911 (Alliance) filed an ex parte presentation in the 
wireless Enhanced 911 (E911) rulemaking proceeding,1 61 FR 
40348, 40374 (August 2, 1996), 63 FR 2631 (January 16, 1998), 
accompanied with an engineering report prepared by the Trott 
Communications Group (Trott). In addition, a letter addressing the 
Alliance ex parte filing was jointly submitted to the Commission on 
September 21, 1998, by the Association of Public-Safety Communications 
Officials-International, Inc. (APCO) and the National Association of 
State Nine-One-One Administration (NASNA). A separate letter addressing 
the Alliance ex parte filing was submitted to the Commission on 
September 22, 1998, by the National Emergency Number Association 
(NENA). The full text of the Alliance ex parte presentation, its 
accompanying Trott report, and the letters filed by APCO, NASNA, and 
NENA 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), 1231 20th Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington, D.C. 20036, 
(202) 857-3800.
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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, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, 11 FCC Rcd 18676 (1996) (E911 First Report and Order) 
(E911 Second NPRM); Memorandum Opinion and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 22665 
(1997).
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    Pursuant to Section 1.415(d) of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR. 
1.415(d), the Commission seeks additional comment in the wireless 
Enhanced 911 (E911) rulemaking proceeding with respect to an ex parte 
presentation filed by Alliance on September 17, 1998. In its ex parte 
filing, Alliance has presented an approach under which the Commission 
would require that, if the signal from the user's provider is 
``inadequate'' at the time a 911 call is placed through the use of an 
analog cellular handset, then the handset must have the capability to 
select automatically the strongest available compatible channel of 
communication for purposes of completing the 911 call. Alliance also 
has provided the Commission with an engineering report regarding the 
minimum level of signal strength at the cellular handset considered 
necessary for ``good'' communication.
    In the wireless E911 rulemaking proceeding, the Commission 
established rules requiring wireless carriers to implement basic 911 
and E911 services. One of the important issues in the E911 Second NPRM 
concerned the Alliance proposal to require that all 911 calls be sent 
to the cellular system with the strongest control channel 
signal.2 To address issues raised by Alliance's strongest 
signal proposal, the Wireless E911 Implementation Ad Hoc Committee 
(WEIAD) recommended to the Commission, in an ex parte report, the use 
of an ``A over B,'' or ``B over A'' option in the case of all analog 
cellular phones.3 Public safety organizations have expressed 
concerns about Alliance's original proposal because, they have 
maintained, the strongest signal would be selected even if there is a 
reliable communications channel available from the user's 
provider.4
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    \2\ See E911 Second NPRM, 11 FCC Rcd at 18746-48 (paras. 144-
148).
    \3\ See Report of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry 
Association (CTIA), the Personal Communications Industry Association 
(PCIA), APCO, NENA, NASNA, and Alliance, filed Jan. 30, 1998 (1997 
E911 Annual Joint Status Report).
    \4\ See Public Safety Organizations (NENA, APCO, NASNA) response 
to Alliance's January 27, 1998, Trott Communications Group Report, 
filed Feb. 23, 1998.
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    In its ex parte filing, Alliance states that it commissioned a 
report by Trott to address two aspects of its proposed solution. Trott 
has recommended a signal strength threshold of -80 dBm as being 
necessary to establish and maintain a ``good'' channel of communication 
between a handset and the cellular system. Trott also has concluded 
that minimal effort and cost would be required to provide handsets with 
the capability to make such a threshold determination and to enable 
strongest compatible signal selection

[[Page 52666]]

when the handset receives a signal below this level upon dialing 9-1-1.
    Additional comment hereby is sought to assist the Commission in 
determining whether to adopt the approach presented by the Alliance in 
its September 17 ex parte filing. Interested parties may file comments 
no later than October 7, 1998, and reply comments no later than October 
19, 1998. 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, N.W., Room 222, Washington, D.C. 20554, referencing CC Docket 
No. 94-102. This proceeding is a permit-but-disclose proceeding 
governed by the provisions of Section 1.1206 of the Commission's Rules, 
47 CFR 1.1206.
    For further information, contact Won Kim at (202) 418-1310, 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Policy Division.

Federal Communications Commission.
Kathleen O'Brien Ham,
Deputy Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
[FR Doc. 98-26233 Filed 9-30-98; 8:45 am]
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