T-Mobile urged the FCC to defer action on 911 regulations for unlicensed mobile access (UMA) and other mobile VoIP services. At its meeting Thurs., the FCC is expected to require VoIP operators to provide customers with E-911 service (CD May 13 p1). But “if the Commission wishes to address” mobile VoIP services, “raising them in a Further Notice, perhaps with an expedited pleading schedule, is by far the better way to go,” T-Mobile said. The firm doesn’t provide VoIP services, but it said “there are a number if promising technologies in development that will permit the offering of VoIP services in conjunction with a [CMRS].” One example is UMA -- a set of industry standards and protocols recently developed for delivery of GSM/GPRS services over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi platforms, it said. “Although it is likely that in a vast majority of circumstances, a CMRS provider deploying a UMA-based VoIP service should be able to route 911 calls to [PSAPs] over its CMRS network, there may be instances where calls cannot be routed in this manner,” T-Mobile said. But there is “absolutely no need” to subject UMA-based VoIP service to 911 rules at this time, since no carrier has deployed UMA, T-Mobile said. The firm and other providers interested in UMA and similar technologies are working on solutions for delivering a 911 call to a PSAP when the carrier’s CMRS network isn’t available. Solutions developed for fixed and nomadic VoIP applications “may not necessarily be the best approaches” for mobile-based VoIP services like UMA, T-Mobile said.

The Ohio PUC approved SBC tariffs for provision of wireless E-911 services to local govts. The PUC gave approval without hearings after concluding the rates, terms and cost support all appeared reasonable. SBC will charge local govts. $7.09 monthly per 1,000 people in the E-911 district, plus a nonrecurring installation fee of $27.96 per 1,000 population. This is for Phase 1 wireless E-911. Upgrading to Phase 2 service, which precisely pinpoints a wireless phone within a cell, will add 89 to make the fee $7.98. Billing will begin when the first 911 answering point within the jurisdiction implements wireless E-911. Localities can recoup their E-911 costs through the statewide 32 monthly 911 fee per wireless phone number that will begin to be billed in Aug. under a 2004 state law.

An order to require VoIP providers to give customers access to E-911 service is on the agenda for the FCC’s open meeting Thurs., as expected, but it’s not clear if that order will be as strongly worded as proponents want. The order is expected to require VoIP providers to offer adequate access in 120 days, which probably would put the deadline in mid or late Sept. The order probably won’t set any requirements for ILECs to open network facilities VoIP providers say they need to offer full 911 service.

Amid growing concern that VoIP customers lack adequate access to 911 services, SBC Wed. introduced a commercial 911 offering aimed at VoIP providers’ “stationary customers,” who use VoIP at one location, such as home. Customers have direct access to local emergency response centers in the same way wireline companies’ customers do, SBC said. Vonage, now pressing Bell companies to open parts of their networks to improve 911 access, immediately criticized the SBC move as inadequate.

The proposed Verizon-MCI merger had few backers in comments to the FCC on Mon. and even those who didn’t oppose the deal urged the Commission to apply conditions or scrutinize the impact on competitors and the public. Opponents called on the FCC to deny the merger or set conditions for it to take effect. And N.Y. Attorney Gen. Eliot Spitzer (D) urged the FCC to weigh competition questions with care.

Midwest Wireless urged the FCC to require open access by VoIP carriers to selective routers nationwide so customers can access E-911 services when they move VoIP equipment. Otherwise, it said, VoIP providers should be permitted to fulfill their E-911 obligation when equipment is moved by notifying customers that: (1) Their phones may not provide E-911 service when moved. (2) Their 911 calls may be routed to an administrative line at the PSAP. (3) The 911 caller should identify his location to the PSAP. Midwest also said there’s “lack of a record in the proceeding to support a new requirement to provide E-911 service.” The FCC is expected to require VoIP providers to connect E-911 calls directly to emergency answering points by Sept. But Midwest said there are “many technical issues outstanding which could best be resolved through, for example, Commission-sponsored workshops or a rulemaking. Such fora would encourage all carriers to participate and potentially expedite resolution of technical issues and necessary intercarrier coordination.” Midwest also urged the FCC to move all carriers to a “forward-looking cost model” for intercarrier compensation and universal service. Such a model based on “an efficient network, combined with the introduction of competitive ETCs, will lower support to all carriers over the long run as well as enabling competitive forces to deliver efficiencies that the regulators cannot.” Midwest’s comments came at its ex parte meeting with FCC officials last week.

Colo. Gov. Bill Owens (D) vetoed a 911 bill that would have let local E-911 agencies use E-911 phone bill surcharge funds to buy emergency radios and other emergency service gear unrelated to provision of emergency notification services. Owens said SB-78 violated the public accountability principle that fees for services should support only the intended services. Current law requires that E-911 surcharge funds cover equipment and personnel costs directly related to receipt and routing of emergency calls. “This new allowable cost has nothing to do with providing 911 emergency services and consumers would have no way to know that they are now paying for radio equipment, and the associated operating expenses and personnel costs of obtaining the radio equipment,” Owens said.

The Conn. Attorney Gen. Office sued Vonage, alleging the VoIP provider misrepresented its 911 service to customers. The state court lawsuit makes Conn. the 5th state to act to force Vonage to make its 911 service more like what incumbent telcos provide. The suit alleged Vonage failed to make clear to customers that its 911 service may take longer to connect, may not link directly to a live emergency dispatcher at all times, and has a greater risk of busy signals. Attorney Gen. Richard Blumenthal (D) said inadequate disclosure about 911 capabilities isn’t just bad business, but can threaten life and property. Vonage officials said the company makes it a point to inform customers about its 911 process, and said state officials should focus on forcing SBC to work out a 911 access agreement with Vonage so it has the access required to offer the same 911 capabilities as SBC. Conn. joins Tex., Mich., Ill. and Kan. in seeking changes to Vonage 911. All are SBC states.

NENA backed the proposed merger between Sprint and Nextel, saying “the capabilities of each company to implement and improve 911 services will be strengthened by their merger.” NENA is “pleased” by the companies’ continued progress on E-911, it told the FCC Wed. “Both Sprint and Nextel have adhered to their existing compliance obligations under the FCC’s rules, and continue to demonstrate their commitment to making E911 services available to their customers throughout the nation,” NENA said. Sprint and Nextel reported progress in deploying E- 911 services in their recent quarterly reports but Nextel said it may not be able to meet the Dec. 31 deadline for 95% of its handsets to be location-enabled. Sprint said it installed the network systems to support Phase II service nationwide almost 3 years ago, but still couldn’t deploy Phase I or Phase II E-911 services because of a lack of LEC and PSAP readiness.

Colo. PUC Comr. Greg Sopkin proposed revisions to the PUC’s telecom administrative rules intended to make regulatory processes more efficient and internally consistent. Sopkin, presiding officer in Case 03R-524T, said the revisions would eliminate unnecessary rules such as having incumbent telcos notify the PUC whenever they get a request for customer-specific service arrangements. The revised rules also would streamline dispute resolution processes and the processes for service disconnections, as well as the rules for promotional discounts. The proposal doesn’t call for any general detariffing, but suggests parties might want to submit their ideas for what might be detariffed in the future. The proposal also would defer to future dockets changes in rules for 911, service costing and universal service.