Hughes Network Systems is working with wireless carriers to investigate use of VSATs in new emergency 911 technology facilitating location finding and connectivity to Public Safety Access Points (PSAPs), Hughes Vp-Corp. Mktg. Arunes Slekys said: “Within the next year we expect to be in that space in some form or another… We're working with partners and companies to deliver that kind of capability.” Slekys said Hughes was crafting various performance and cost models, but said it was clear that use of terrestrial backhaul systems would be significantly more costly than VSAT counterpart. “VSAT is a lot cleaner and simpler business model… The way you get to a PSAP is quite expensive. Landline facilities have to be dedicated, and it’s expensive to use a terrestrial backhaul system. Ultimately, the costs are passed on to the wireless customer.” Slekys said Hughes VSATs could reach a “huge audience” and could provide “opportunity for marriage between wireless and VSAT delivery.” Hughes declined identify wireless carriers with which it was working. Spokesperson for Verizon said VSATs “were not something we're actively considering now.” Verizon has detailed for FCC in Limited Waiver Request its plan to use Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) chips in handsets, but spokesman said he “doesn’t know of any additional things that are currently under consideration… We believe that our plan will allow us to provide location technology to vast majority of Americans the fastest.”

In response to concerns of public safety community, AT&T Wireless (AWS) told FCC Mon. that it was revising its location technology choice for Phase 2 of Enhanced 911 on its TDMA network. Earlier this year, company had requested waiver of Phase 2 requirement to use mobile-assisted network location solution (MNLS) for its TDMA system, telling FCC that was only commercially available technology that would meet accuracy requirements. “Despite the substantial evidence AWS has submitted regarding the benefits of MNLS, the public safety community remains opposed to its use,” AT&T Wireless told FCC: “Because AWS does not believe that its efforts to provide E911 service to the public can succeed without the support of the public safety community, it is pursuing an alternative TDMA solution.” Company said it was in talks with TruePosition and Grayson Wireless on use of their network overlay technologies for its TDMA infrastructure. Carrier said it believed it could reach contract agreement with either TruePosition or Grayson by mid-Oct. Both vendors have told AT&T they could install their location solutions in TDMA markets where AT&T Wireless has valid request from public safety answering point (PSAP) for Phase 2 service. AT&T said it had 1,600 cell sites in jurisdictions with pending PSAP requests for service. Agreement with TruePosition or Grayson would require that solutions be installed in each of those cell sites, starting Nov. 1 and ending no later than Dec. 31, 2002, AT&T said. “After 2002, AWS expects to be able to deploy Phase 2 technology within six months of a valid PSAP request,” carrier said. AT&T Wireless said it sought permission from Commission to use either solution in its TDMA markets. In markets that rely on GSM, AT&T Wireless said it would use solution from TruePosition or Grayson or another that complied with FCC rules. “AWS notes that in its previous trials, both TruePosition’s and Grayson’s technologies failed to meet the Commission accuracy requirements for network-based technologies,” carrier said. “We also reiterate that the deployment of any network overlay solution is likely to be subject to the construction and zoning delays associated with the addition of any new RF equipment to a wireless network.” Commitment by Grayson and TruePosition to install solutions in TDMA markets by Dec. 31, 2002, “address these concerns,” AT&T said.

ComCare lauded commitment of Cingular Wireless to undertake national deployment of Enhanced 911 location technology under Phase 2 requirements of FCC. “Cingular Wireless is demonstrating significant leadership on a critical issue of public safety,” ComCare Chmn. Sue Hoyt said.

Sprint PCS asked FCC Mon. to make decision on local number portability (LNP) forbearance for wireless carriers by year-end, saying quick decision could free up technical resources that operators must use in other compliance areas. Verizon Wireless earlier this year submitted petition for forbearance from LNP requirements under FCC rules that require commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) carriers to support service provider LNP in top 100 metro areas by Nov. 24, 2002. Verizon Wireless didn’t seek forbearance from separate requirement that CMRS carriers participate in thousands-block number pooling by Nov. 24, 2002. It said forbearance was appropriate because LNP requirements imposed complex technical burden, and expense wasn’t justified by economic benefits. Sprint PCS said start date for LNP poses “timing problem” because carriers must sign vendor contracts and increase technical resources for implementation 10 months before deadline. “Sprint PCS submits that the public interest is not served by the industry’s expenditure of sizable capital and systems modifications in pursuit of the LNP mandate in advance of Commission action on the pending LNP forbearance petition,” carrier said. FCC decision by year-end could save nearly $21 million in design, construction, testing and implementation costs, Sprint PCS said. “Inasmuch as Sprint PCS serves approximately 10% of all mobile customers, the resource savings from an early decision on the pending LNP forbearance petition would be sizable,” carrier said. Figure doesn’t represent all LNP costs or expenditures for other wireless carriers, Sprint said. LNP issues are among regulatory requirements that carriers must meet, including Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) deadlines and Enhanced 911, carrier said. “CMRS carriers are facing a significant strain on technical resources,” Sprint said. If Dec. 31 decision date isn’t practical, company said FCC had alternatives, including suspending LNP implementation deadline for one year after it enters order on forbearance request, without altering pooling start date. “Practical” timing problem carriers now face is that FCC must act on Verizon forbearance petition by Aug. 2, 2002, less than 4 months before implementation deadline, Sprint PCS said. “It is time for the Commission to establish priorities,” it said: “Phase II E911 service is important. TTY capabilities are important. Implementing number pooling is important. The sooner the Commission removes the LNP regulatory mandate, the sooner industry can better focus its resources.”

Ohio PUC adopted new minimum telephone service standards for local and long distance providers. New rules result from PUC review of service standards in light of industry changes over last few years and last year’s Ameritech service problems. Rules won’t take effect until they have been reviewed and approved by Legislative Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review. If approved as expected, new Ohio rules (Docket 00-1265-TP-ORD) will require telecom providers to issue automatic credits for missed installation and repair appointments and issue credits upon customer request if installations or repairs are delayed past state deadlines. Under new rules, it will be up to customer to notify carrier of late installations or repairs. Since old service rules were adopted in 1998, some one million customers have received $13 million in credits due to delays. New rules also will implement customer bill of rights that emphasizes customers’ options for obtaining and retaining local phone service and spells out complaint processing procedures. Rules also require (1) redesigned phone bills that clearly explain all charges and fees and (2) that customers disconnected for nonpayment be allowed 911 access for 14 days after disconnection. PUC also asked staff for recommendation on whether it should adopt standardized format for all Ohio telephone directories to ensure legibility and usefulness.

Verizon was working Wed. to restore some service to its heavily damaged West St. central office, punctured on one side by steel beams thrust down by collapse of World Trade Center’s Building #7, flooded with water, covered with inches of soot and without commercial power. Verizon Vice Chmn. Larry Babbio, who had just returned from visiting West St. facility, told reporters that scene was horrible but technicians were planning to vacuum, clean and dry every piece of equipment on 12 levels, including 5 basements, all waterlogged, in hope of getting some service restored soon. Company is bringing in generators to provide power.

CTIA said Tues., at opening of Wireless I.T. show in San Diego that it planned to “work closely” with public safety community on wireless Enhanced 911 location technology. Calling E911 “team effort,” CTIA Pres. Tom Wheeler said “there needs to be equivalent commitment on the part of public safety agencies to upgrade their facilities to handle this information.”

After Tues. airborne attacks on World Trade Center and Pentagon, major cellular and wireline networks were faced with heavy congestion, but most infrastructure remained operable. Several carriers reported destruction of equipment from attacks in N.Y. and many wireless subscribers appeared to have difficulty getting calls through in N.Y. and Washington in aftermath. Telecom companies appealed to customers to use network only in case of emergencies and acknowledged that some callers might get busy signal or operator message indicating call couldn’t get through network. Even before federal govt. shut down, FCC Web site said that “as a precaution,” agency would close for rest of day Tues.

Some members of Congress and industry agree that blame for delayed implementation of enhanced 911 (E-911) location technology can’t be placed on any one particular entity. Senate Commerce Communications Subcommittee had scheduled hearing Tues. on issue, but all federal buildings were evacuated because of terrorist attacks earlier in day. Meanwhile, National Emergency Number Assn. (NENA) released 911 “Report Card to the Nation” that updated overall state of 911 systems nationwide. It assigned: (1) “A-” grade for general quality of 911 service. (2) “B” for 911 availability and public awareness. (3) “Incomplete” for wireless industry provision of location and call-back technology to 911 centers. (4) “D” for future 911 system preparation, saying “new technologies, increased competition and other institutional changes [were likely to] exceed current levels of funding.” When asked who was responsible for delayed phase 2 deployment, Sen. Burns (R-Mont.) said: “Everyone.” Deadline for Phase 2 compliance is Oct. 1, but many wireless carriers are seeking waivers and setting firm deployment schedules. CTIA Pres. Thomas Wheeler expressed commitment to work with public safety community to carry out E-911 mandates: “Some have claimed the industry is dragging its feet in implementing this new technology. But the excitement and energy generated by the commercial possibilities of location technology proves that industry is eager to make this a reality.” However, Rep. Eshoo (D-Cal.) recently (CD Sept 7 p3) lambasted industry for causing delays, saying it had 5 years to prepare. Eshoo, joined by Reps. Rush (D-Ill.) and Harman (D-Cal.) urged FCC to send message to industry by showing reluctance to grant deadline waiver requests. Rep. Boucher (D-Va.), although supportive of rapid E-911 deployment, has encouraged FCC to be flexible in granting waivers because of difficulties rural carriers face in effectively deploying location applications that meet FCC’s accuracy requirements.

Rep. Eshoo (D-Cal.) said that although some wireless carriers might face “bumpy road” in complying with phase 2 of FCC’s enhanced 911 deployment mandate, most have offered “poor excuses” for inability to meet Commission’s Oct. 1 implementation deadline. Eshoo said in news conference Thurs. that industry “has had enough time” to deploy location capabilities into their networks and urged FCC Chmn. Powell “not to squander the opportunity to send a message” to noncompliant carriers: “We have one thing on our minds and that is to communicate to the chairman and members of the [FCC] that they must move on E-911.” Eshoo said recent testimony industry gave to House Telecom Subcommittee (CD June 15 p3) was unpersuasive and that FCC should be reluctant to offer additional compliance waivers to individual carriers.