[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 95 (Thursday, May 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28116-28117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10661]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[PS Docket No. 08-51, FCC 08-95]


Use of Non-Service Initialized Phones to Make Fraudulent 911 
Calls

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission grants a Petition for Notice 
of Inquiry filed by nine public safety organizations and a software 
development firm, and seeks comment, analysis, and information in three 
specific areas: The nature and extent of fraudulent 911 calls made from 
non-service initialized (NSI) handsets; carrier and public safety 
authority concerns with blocking NSI phones used to make fraudulent 911 
calls, and suggestions for making this a more viable solution for 
carriers; and other possible solutions to the problem of fraudulent 911 
calls from NSI handsets.

DATES: Comments are due June 30, 2008; Reply Comments are due July 29, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by PS Docket No. 08-51, 
by any of the identified methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Federal Communications Commission's Web Site: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and 
Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20554.
     People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request 
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language 
interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: [email protected] or phone 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.
    For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Cohen, Public Safety and 
Homeland Security Bureau at (202) 418-0799, TTY (202) 418-7172.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Notice of Inquiry 
in PS Docket No. 08-41, FCC 08-95, adopted April 7, 2008, and released 
April 11, 2008 (``Notice''). The complete text of this document is 
available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in 
the FCC Reference Information Center, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, 
DC. This document may also be obtained from the Commission's 
duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., in person at 445 
12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, via telephone at 
(202) 488-5300, via facsimile at (202) 488-5563, or via e-mail at 
[email protected]. Alternative formats (computer diskette, large print, 
audio cassette, and Braille) are available to persons with disabilities 
by sending an e-mail to [email protected] or calling the Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530, TTY (202) 418-0432. This 
document is also available on the Commission's Web site at http://www.fcc.gov.

Synopsis of the Notice of Inquiry

    1. In this Notice of Inquiry (the Notice) the Commission considers 
whether additional or modified rules are needed to address the problem 
of fraudulent 911 calls made from NSI handsets. Specifically, the 
Notice seeks comment on the extent of the misuse of NSI handsets, and 
seeks survey, and other evidence, that will allow the Commission to 
make this determination. The Notice also seeks comment on problems with 
the present call-blocking solution, including problems involved with 
roaming callers, other technical concerns related to blocking 
fraudulent 911 calls from NSI handsets, potential solutions to these 
technical problems, and concerns regarding legal liability connected 
with blocking such calls. Finally the Notice seeks to ascertain the 
viability of other potential solutions to the problem, including 
further call-back capabilities for NSI devices, elimination of call-
forwarding requirements for NSI devices, and requiring carriers' 
donation programs to provide service-initialized phones.

Procedural Matters

    2. Authority. This Notice is issued pursuant to authority contained 
in Sections 1, 4(i), 4(j), 303(r) and 332 of the Communications Act, as 
amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 303(r), and 332.
    3. Ex Parte Rules. There are no ex parte or disclosure requirements

[[Page 28117]]

applicable to this proceeding pursuant to 47 CFR 1.1204(b)(1).
    4. Comment Information. Pursuant to Sec. Sec.  1.415 and 1.419 of 
the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may 
file comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated on 
the first page of this document. Comments may be filed using (1) The 
FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal 
Government's eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies. See 
Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 
24,121(1998).
     Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the Internet by accessing the Electronic Comment Filing System 
(ECFS): http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
http://www.regulations.gov. Filers should follow the instructions 
provided on the Web site for submitting comments.
     For ECFS filers, if multiple dockets or rulemaking numbers 
appear in the caption of this proceeding, filers must transmit one 
electronic copy of the comments for each docket or rulemaking number 
referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, filers 
should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, 
and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit 
an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions, 
filers should send an e-mail to [email protected], and include the following 
words in the body of the message, ``get form.'' A sample form and 
directions will be sent in response.
     Paper Filers: 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, 
filers 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). All filings must be addressed to 
the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal 
Communications Commission.
     The Commission's contractor 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, Express, and Priority 
mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.
    People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible 
formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic 
files, audio format), send an e-mail to [email protected] or call the 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-
418-0432 (TTY).

    Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E8-10661 Filed 5-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P