The FCC released an order late Fri. to give small rural wireless ...

fewer than 500,000 subscribers -- to present their case to the FCC. Many Tier 3 carriers have asked for various types of relief from the FCC’s accuracy and reliability standards for Phase 2 of the E911 rollout, which requires cellphones to give emergency operators the approximate location of a caller. But while the FCC said it would review each carrier’s petition on a case-by-case basis, its tone on carriers’ requests was skeptical. While demonstrating its willingness to help individual carriers that face technical and economic challenges, the Commission cautioned that, due to the overwhelming public interest benefits of E911 service, “these carriers face a heavy burden when seeking a further stay of their E911 service obligations… The Commission will only grant carriers relief from their E911 obligations when extraordinary circumstances exist.” The FCC’s order appears to address a provision in an E911 bill moving its way through Congress. The bill, HR- 2898, by Rep. Shimkus (R-Ill.), would require the FCC to make considerations for Tier 3 carriers. The bill has been passed by the House Commerce Committee, but hasn’t been scheduled for a floor vote (CD Oct 2 p1). A Senate version, S-1250, has passed the Commerce Committee in that chamber.