ESHOO SAYS WIRELESS INDUSTRY IS MAKING EXCUSES ON E-911
Rep. Eshoo (D-Cal.) said that although some wireless carriers might face “bumpy road” in complying with phase 2 of FCC’s enhanced 911 deployment mandate, most have offered “poor excuses” for inability to meet Commission’s Oct. 1 implementation deadline. Eshoo said in news conference Thurs. that industry “has had enough time” to deploy location capabilities into their networks and urged FCC Chmn. Powell “not to squander the opportunity to send a message” to noncompliant carriers: “We have one thing on our minds and that is to communicate to the chairman and members of the [FCC] that they must move on E-911.” Eshoo said recent testimony industry gave to House Telecom Subcommittee (CD June 15 p3) was unpersuasive and that FCC should be reluctant to offer additional compliance waivers to individual carriers.
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In contrast, Rep. Boucher (D-Va.) in late July asked Powell to consider negative implications of “hard” deadlines for rural carriers. Boucher said some rural companies “may be at a particular disadvantage” in complying with FCC mandate because of “lack of economies of scale” and “unavailability of location solutions which have been proven to meet the Commission’s accuracy requirements in rural applications.” He encouraged Powell to be flexible in considering waiver requests by such carriers and said that “based on the number of expected” requests that FCC should consider using its forbearance authority.
APCO Pres. Thera Bradshaw said waivers “will delay time” in which carriers could comply. She said “one company has made significant effort” in developing long-term game plan for compliance, later identifying it as Cingular. When asked why Cingular stood out from rest of industry, she said it had mapped out how and when it would achieve phase 2 compliance: “We're looking for a commitment [from industry] to make it happen.”
Reps. Rush (D-Ill.) and Harman (D-Cal.) also pledged support in putting pressure on FCC to act. Rush said Commission must ensure that carriers “don’t run for cover and hide on their obligation to implement E-911.” Harman said FCC must not enforce only E-911 compliance, it must be careful not to split area codes “irrationally,” measure that also could disrupt E-911 implementation, she said.