[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66401-66403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27647]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[WT Docket No. 02-46; DA 02-2666]


Report on Technical and Operational Wireless E911 Issues

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; comment invited.

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SUMMARY: The Commission seeks comment on a Report on Technical and 
Operational Issues Impacting the Provision of Wireless Enhanced 911 
Services by Dale N. Hatfield (the Hatfield Report). The Commission will 
use the information in the Hatfield Report and in the comments it 
receives to assess enhanced emergency 911 services deployment issues 
and consider methods to overcome any obstacles and accelerate 
deployment.

DATES: Comments are due on or before November 15, 2002, and reply 
comments are due on or before December 3, 2002.

ADDRESSES: All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, 
Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications 
Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. A copy should 
also be sent to Jennifer Salhus, Room 3A-131, Federal Communications 
Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Salhus and Won Kim, Attorney, 
(202) 418-1310.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau invites the public to 
comment on a Report on Technical and Operational Issues Impacting the 
Provision of Wireless Enhanced 911 Services by Dale N. Hatfield filed 
on October 15, 2002 (the Hatfield Report). The Commission will use the 
information in the Hatfield Report and in the comments it receives to 
assess enhanced emergency 911 services (E911) deployment issues and 
consider methods to overcome any obstacles and accelerate deployment.
    2. In a series of orders beginning in 1996, the Commission required 
wireless carriers to provide both basic and enhanced emergency 911 
services. The Commission has recognized that despite substantial 
progress to date in the development of the technologies to support E911 
location capability, much remains to be done to achieve the 
Commission's fundamental goal of having wireless E911 location 
capabilities deployed throughout the country.
    3. In the fall of 2001, the Commission announced that Dale N. 
Hatfield, former Chief of the Commission's Office of Engineering and 
Technology, would conduct an inquiry into technical and operational 
issues with wireless E911 deployment.
    4. On March 5, 2002, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (the 
Bureau) released a Public Notice announcing the details of the inquiry. 
The Bureau noted that the purpose of the inquiry was to obtain an 
expert, informed, unbiased assessment of the technical and operational 
issues that affect wireless E911 deployment. The Bureau stated that 
information would be gathered and evaluated from many sources, 
including from technology vendors, network equipment and handset 
manufacturers, carriers, the public safety community, and other sources 
concerning technology standards issues, development of hardware and 
software, and supply conditions. The inquiry was also intended to 
address the provisioning by Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) of the 
facilities and equipment necessary to receive and utilize E911 data 
elements. The Bureau indicated that the focus of the inquiry was on the 
future of the wireless E911 deployment, including obstacles to 
deployment and steps that might be taken to overcome or minimize them. 
The Bureau noted that, at the conclusion of his inquiry, Mr. Hatfield

[[Page 66402]]

would prepare a report of his findings that would be released for 
public comment.
    5. On October 15, 2002, Mr. Hatfield filed a report conveying the 
results of his inquiry. In his report, Mr. Hatfield notes initially the 
importance of wireless E911 for emergency services, the progress that 
has been made in wireless E911 implementation over the past several 
years, especially in the development and selection of technologies for 
obtaining location information, and the critical role LECs play in 
implementation of wireless E911. Mr. Hatfield makes several findings 
about current E911 implementation efforts and offers a number of 
recommendations to address some of the principal issues and concerns 
raised during the course of the inquiry.
    6. Mr. Hatfield recommends that a ``National 911 Program Office'' 
be established within the proposed Department of Homeland Security to 
coordinate with local and state public safety first responders and 
other stakeholders.
    7. Because of the importance of E911 to the safety of life and 
property and to homeland security, Mr. Hatfield recommends that the 
Commission maintain or even increase its oversight of the rollout of 
wireless E911 services in the U.S. over the next several years.
    8. Mr. Hatfield recommends that the Commission:

--Establish an advisory committee to address the technical framework 
for the further development and evolution of E911 systems and services 
including technical standards;
--Continue to urge the creation of organizations at the state, 
regional, and local levels of government to coordinate the rollout of 
wireless E911 services; and
--Encourage the creation of a national level clearinghouse to collect, 
store, and disseminate status information on the rollout of wireless 
E911.

    9. Mr. Hatfield recommends that the Commission actively coordinate 
with and support the U.S. Department of Transportation's Wireless E911 
initiative and other efforts to educate state and local governments and 
PSAPs on the benefits and importance of wireless E911 services. He also 
recommends that the Commission continue to support the efforts of the 
Emergency Services Interconnection Forum (ESIF) to address the issue of 
PSAP readiness.
    10. Mr. Hatfield recommends that the Commission work closely with 
individual and state regulatory commissions and their association, the 
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), in 
resolving issues relating to LEC cost recovery and pricing. In 
addition, Mr. Hatfield recommends that the Commission urge stakeholders 
to develop industry-wide procedures for testing and certification of 
wireless E911 to ensure that they meet the accuracy requirements 
specified in the Commission's rules.
    11. Finally, Mr. Hatfield makes recommendations about several other 
issues, including the need for end-to-end testing of wireless E911 
systems, conveying confidence/uncertainty information associated with 
position determination and routing choices, accommodating new 
requirements and requirement ``creep,'' the impact of future 
technological developments, consumer expectations, the implications of 
commercial location-based services, and the need for an adaptable 
regulatory approach. A copy of the report can be found at: http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_ pdf=pdf&id--
document=6513296239.
    12. Interested parties may file comments on the report on or before 
November 15, 2002, and reply comments on or before December 3, 2002. 
Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing 
System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies.
    13. This is a ``permit but disclose'' proceeding pursuant to 
section 1206 of the Commission's Rules. Presentations to or from 
Commission decision-making personnel are permissible provided that ex 
parte presentations are disclosed pursuant to 47 CFR 1.1206(b). 
Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via 
the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html. Generally, only 
one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket 
or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, 
however, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the filing to 
each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In 
completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full 
name, Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or 
rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic copy by 
Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments, 
commenters should send an e-mail to [email protected], and should include 
the following words in the body of the message: ``get form .'' A sample form and directions will be sent in 
reply. Commenters also may obtain a copy of the ASCII Electronic 
Transmittal Form (FORM-ET) at http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/email.html.
    14. Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and 
four copies of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking 
number appears in the caption of this proceeding, commenters must 
submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking 
number. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by 
commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. 
Postal Service mail (although we continue to experience delays in 
receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). The Commission's contractor, 
Vistronix, Inc., will receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered 
paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at 236 Massachusetts 
Avenue, NE., Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002. The filing hours at this 
location are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together 
with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of 
before entering the building. Commercial overnight mail (other than 
U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 
9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service 
first-class mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail should be addressed 
to 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. All filings must be 
addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, 
Federal Communications Commission. A copy should also be sent to 
Jennifer Salhus, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 3-A131, Washington, DC 
20554.
    15. Regardless of whether parties choose to file electronically or 
by paper, parties should also file one copy of any documents filed in 
this docket with the Commission's copy contractor, Qualex 
International, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., CY-B402, Washington, DC 
20554 (telephone (202) 863-2893; facsimile (202) 863-2898) or via e-
mail at [email protected]. In addition, one copy of each submission 
must be filed with the Chief, Policy Division, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. 
Documents filed in this proceeding will be available for public 
inspection during regular business hours in the Commission's Reference 
Information Center, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554, and 
will be placed on the Commission's Internet site.


[[Page 66403]]


Federal Communications Commission.
James D. Schlichting,
Deputy Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
[FR Doc. 02-27647 Filed 10-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P