OnStar petitioned FCC last week for ruling that in- vehicle telem...

largest geographic footprint and was only standardized wireless way to transmit voice and data on same call. OnStar told FCC that because of wireless industry’s migration to digital networks, it was developing digital telematics solution and was negotiating with wireless carriers to provide such services. In talks, company said “it has become apparent that the use of the term ‘handset’ in the Commission’s 911 orders has created uncertainty regarding the potential obligations of OnStar and its carrier partners when the future digital embedded telematics system is initialized to provide hands-free, voice-activated wireless calling.” OnStar, which is part of General Motors, is largest provider of telematics services, with more than 2 million subscribers. Confusion over FCC’s rules involves “implicit and explicit assumptions” on conventional handset technology that underlie Commission decisions on Phase 2. “Embedded telematics should not be treated as handsets and therefore not be subject to Phase 2 requirements at this time,” OnStar told FCC. Embedded telematics systems developed around use of stand-alone GPS while handset-based Phase 2 E911 technology has evolved around network-assisted GPS/advanced forward link trilateration handset solution, OnStar said. OnStar, its suppliers and wireless carrier partners are working now on engineering development to reconcile differing approaches to provide Phase 2 calling if telematics unit is enabled to provide wireless calling. “The reconciliation of the chipsets and wireless networks to accommodate this difference is adding critical technological risk to the telematics transition to digital technology,” filing said. Company said that under FCC’s rules, wireless carriers had discretion on how to implement Phase 2 of E911 and as result had taken different approaches. “This poses a problem for telematics as vehicles are built with a single transceiver design and, in any event, without always knowing the location of the ultimate purchaser,” filing said.