FCC ‘reluctantly and temporarily’ delayed Enhanced 911 Phase 2 in...

months for medium (Tier 2) carriers, and 13 months for smallest (Tier 3) carriers. Ultimate implementation deadline of Dec. 31, 2005, for E911 Phase 2 caller location ability remains for all carriers, FCC said in order adopted July 11 but not released until Fri. Last fall, FCC created compliance plans with extended E911 implementation schedule for 6 national commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) carriers. Order released Fri. addressed similar relief for smaller, nonnationwide carriers for additional time to comply with E911 Phase 2 rules. “Because the record demonstrates that nonnationwide CMRS carriers have much less ability than the nationwide CMRS carriers to obtain the specific vendor commitments necessary to deploy E911 immediately, we grant these carriers temporary, limited relief from the E911 Phase 2 implementation rules,” FCC said. It said handset vendors and suppliers of network-based location technology “give priority to the larger, nationwide carriers.” Deployment schedules of those national carriers “have created downstream delays for Tier 2 and Tier 3 carriers,” Commission said. Nonnationwide carriers have told FCC they have been unable to focus vendors as group on needs of their networks, especially as those suppliers’ worked to fill orders from national companies. “We do not pass judgment on any particular manufacturer’s relationships with any particular smaller carrier,” agency said. “However, we find that the delays in overall nationwide carriers’ E911 rollout plans have resulted in an overall delay that has affected Tier 2 and 3 carriers.” Temporary stay of deadlines is in line with public interest “because it allows for a more efficient rollout of E911,” it said. “We note, however, that a continuing set of delays could seriously delay E911 deployment and therefore could reduce safety-of-life services for all Americans. While we are allowing a delay here, further delays could undermine the entire E911 rollout.” Benefits of interim delays allowed in order would be “outweighed” if further delays led to missing ultimate implementation deadline of 2005, FCC warned. It said it still believed full compliance by that date was achievable. By allowing each set of wireless carriers to launch Phase 2 rollout on different schedule, FCC may help to offload deployment problems faced by carriers that are traceable to 3rd party vendors, it said. “By focusing first on nationwide carriers, followed by Tier 2 carriers and then Tier 3 carriers, equipment manufacturers and location technology providers will be able to prioritize their responsibilities to serve carriers with the most immediate need first,” agency said. Tier 2 carriers include those with more than 500,000 subscribers at end of 2001 and include Alltel, CenturyTel, Leap Wireless, Qwest, U.S. Cellular, Triton PCS, Western Wireless.