FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief David Solomon asked Wireless Consume...
FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief David Solomon asked Wireless Consumers Alliance (WCA) Fri. to provide results of 911 studies that WCA said indicated some handset models weren’t meeting part of agency’s 911 rules. WCA study focused on requirements of Feb.…
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2000 rule that required new analog wireless handsets and digital handsets when operating in analog mode be able to complete 911 calls to either analog carrier in area regardless of programming of handset for non- 911 calls. Handset must use one or more of 911 call completion methods approved by FCC. WCA Pres. Carl Hilliard told us Fri. that tests, which have been submitted as part of several pending consumer lawsuits, examined handset compliance with FCC rules that require that wireless handset to make best effort to place 911 call over subscriber’s home system, including by giving carrier audio and visual notification that emergency call is being processed and by requiring carrier to connect call over subscriber’s home network in 17 sec. to landline operator, Hilliard said. “We tested 33 phones and one of them was able to switch in 63 seconds,” Hilliard said. “None of the others could at all.” He said WCA was planning to hand over test data that Enforcement Bureau requested. Among lawsuits are one filed in U.S. Dist. Court, N.Y., this month that involves subscriber claims that some cellphone models aren’t properly connecting emergency calls to 911 centers. Lawsuit reportedly involves Samsung phones purchased since Feb. 13, 2000, which is date that FCC rules effect concerning 911 call completion. Litigation said these phones, in tests, didn’t notify user by tone or message that 911 call was in progress and didn’t connect to 911 center within 17 sec. Other similar lawsuits have been filed in L.A. and Washington. Solomon said in Fri. letter that WCA had meet with FCC officials last week on test results, indicating that they “demonstrate possible non-compliance” with FCC rules in this area. As formal follow-up, Solomon requested copy of studies, including FCC identifiers and serial numbers of units, test results and methodologies “as soon as practicable so that we can make a determination as to whether there have been any violations of our rules.”