The CTIA urged the FCC this week not to impose additional burdens...

examine whether mobile satellite service operators, multiline phone systems, IP telephony providers, wireless resellers and telematics systems should meet E911 mandates. It received a flurry of ex parte filings this week in anticipation of some of those issues’ being addressed at next week’s FCC agenda meeting. In Feb., several industry groups urged the Commission to tread lightly before expanding basic and E911 rules beyond the wireless operators now covered. CTIA told the FCC this week that “underlying facilities-based carriers providing service to wireless resellers are already subject to extensive obligations regarding E911 that apply independent of this proceeding.” The association said: “To the extent the Commission concludes that any new burdens regarding E911 compliance are imposed on resold wireless service in this proceeding, it would be appropriate to place them directly on the resellers who are responsible for equipment sales and services to their customers.” Separately, Mercedes-Benz USA urged the FCC in a filing this week to quickly establish its position that call-center-based telematics services shouldn’t be subject to E911 rules. The company cited telematics services that rely on call centers and didn’t allow users to communicate directly with others via the public switched telephone network. The company said the Assn. of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) had suggested that the FCC not impose obligations on call- center-based telematics services. Sprint reiterated that if the FCC determined that E911 rules should be extended to resold services, it should make clear “that the underlying carrier cannot be held responsible for the actions of resellers and that the obligation to purchase compatible handsets lies with these independent business entities.” The Ad Hoc Telecom Users Committee said in a filing Wed. that the FCC “lacks jurisdiction to impose workplace safety obligations on the owners and operators of multiline telephone systems.” As a result, the group said the Commission couldn’t promulgate E911 regulations with which such businesses would have to comply. It said local and state authorities were in a better position than the FCC to determine whether such rules were needed and, if deemed necessary, to tailor them to local workplaces.