FCC Wireless Bureau granted requests from some digital wireless c...

and gave AT&T Wireless less time than it sought to implement digital TTY capability in GSM part of its network that uses Nokia switches. FCC rules required that by June 30, digital wireless service providers be able to transmit 911 calls made using TTY devices. “Overall, digital wireless services providers are timely implementing TTY capability in their networks, which is necessary to enable TTY users to make emergency 911 calls and enjoy the benefits of digital wireless services,” Bureau said. At recent TTY Forum, order said, 5 national wireless carriers said they were implementing TTY capability “widely” as of June 30 and that capability was expected to be available in most areas as of July 1. Group of mostly small, rural carriers sought limited extensions of June 30 deadline, ranging from 3 months to one year, attributing requests to vendor delays associated with software and hardware upgrades. Among larger carriers, AT&T Wireless told FCC it expected to meet nationwide compliance deadline in its TDMA network, which serves most of its subscribers. Company sought extension for 3 months beyond date on which Nokia delivers functional product for deployment in parts of its GSM network. Carrier said it expected to deploy TTY capability in all operational GSM markets served by Nokia switches by Sept. 30. AT&T said it found errors in initial versions of Nokia software in tests in April. For Ericsson TTY solution, AT&T Wireless said it expected to implement technology before June 30. Bureau turned down AT&T petition “to the extent that it requests an extension of the compliance deadline for a period of time triggered solely by the timing of a vendor’s delivery of a product for deployment,” order said. “To grant such relief from a regulatory obligation would effectively remove the obligation of carriers to take the steps necessary to satisfy that obligation.” Order gave AT&T Wireless until Sept. 30 to implement TTY capability in GSM part of network served by Nokia switches. For carriers migrating from TDMA, order granted conditional extension of time to deploy TTY capability for 911 calls until Dec. 31, 2003. Order said that would give additional 18 months for affected carriers to transition from TDMA and move subscribers to TTY-capable network. “Because of recent developments related to larger carriers’ moving away from TDMA and the resulting loss of vendor support for these systems, these small carriers are in an unusual position of having to change their underlying technology on the eve of the Commission’s regulatory deadline for implementing TTY-capability in their systems,” order said. Bureau stipulated that if carrier still was operating TDMA network at end of 18-month extension, agency would have to implement TTY solution in that network.