In update to FCC on its Enhanced 911 Phase 2 progress, VoiceStrea...

commercial shipments of 2 EOTD handsets by Oct. 1 “However, VoiceStream will only be able to deploy its EOTD solution in a limited fashion this year,” company told FCC last week in ex parte filing. “This is due primarily to delays in the provision of EOTD network equipment by Nortel and Ericsson.” Deployment of Nokia network equipment will start in Oct. in Houston, and Nortel equipment rollout will commence in Denco, Tex., around same time. VoiceStream last fall received conditional waiver from FCC for Phase 2 of E911 (CD Sept 11 p1). Among conditions, VoiceStream must deploy network solution providing baseline location information accuracy of 1,000 m for 67% of all calls by Dec. 31, 2001. Handset solution can be deployed along later timeline, with 100% compliance of all sets sold by March 31, 2002. Network solution is on track for deployment at end of 2001 at those accuracy levels “or better,” VoiceStream said. Company attached recent letters from equipment carriers indicating all elements of their Phase 2 solution weren’t expected to be ready by Oct. 1 deadline for Phase 2. “Despite diligent development efforts, the earliest potential compliance deadline of Oct. 1, 2001, unfortunately will not permit Nortel Networks to make the entire tested, deployable core wireless technology [for Phase 2] available at that time,” Nortel said in letter to VoiceStream.