CTIA committed to wireless industry implementation of wireless pr...

up to carriers whether to provide capability. One source said need for priority system was driven home after Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which heightened interest at National Communications Systems (NCS) in creating such system for wireless networks. To that end, CTIA wrote to NCS that, at its request, industry would provide priority access service capabilities for 500 national security and emergency personnel in about 60 days. NCS previously had 2 goals, CTIA said: Roll out short-term fix for wireless priority access service and longer-term operational capability by end of 2002. Industry also plans to begin work on larger system that could support 50,000 personnel and launch by end of 2002. CTIA said that because priority access services were expected to be used in disaster areas, wireless industry was interested in making sure enough spectrum existed to support both priority access service and basic 911 calls. “At the heart of this issue lies the matter of how the capacity of wireless networks is constrained by limited spectrum and limitations on spectrum usage,” CTIA Pres. Tom Wheeler said. “Notwithstanding the challenges, we are committed to developing solutions that will balance our concerns with your objectives within the framework of the FCC’s rules for wireless PAS [priority access service].” Any outstanding issues can be resolved quickly, Wheeler said. In letter to NCS Chief-Technology and Programs Div. Peter Fonash, Wheeler said NCS’s “immediate request” that basic PAS capabilities to support 500 national security and emergency personnel was “reasonable.” He said PAS capability that complied with different air interfaces would require NCS to work with industry standards groups. “Because each technology is likely to require differing degrees of handset and/or switch development, the time frame associated with developing PAS standards for the different wireless platforms may not be identical,” Wheeler wrote. He also told Fonash that while plans for interim wireless capabilities might comply with “spirit” of FCC’s PAS order, “they may not comply with the literal, technical requirements” of Commission rules, such as ability to support 5 levels of priority callers. “Should NCS wish to pursue these interim solutions, NCS would need to seek a waiver of the Commission’s rules,” Wheeler wrote. “We would hope that the Commission would act quickly and grant waivers to support this immediate and limited need.”