Public safety issues rarely dominate the agenda of any FCC chairmen, as in 2004 when one of the biggest focuses of then-Chairman Michael Powell was the 800 MHz rebanding, aimed at protecting safety users from interference. Four years later, then-Chairman Kevin Martin pushed through a failed plan to reallocate the 700 MHz D block for public safety. The main contender, Frontline, dropped its pursuit of the band, which went unsold at auction but now is part of FirstNet. Every chairman since has focused on a few public safety issues.

This Special Report on Emergency Communications details the challenges of modernizing systems like 911, and other hurdles to further improving public safety. The six articles by Communications Daily journalists are the result of months of research, interviews, document reviews and public-records requests.

This Special Report on Emergency Communications details the challenges of modernizing systems like 911, and other hurdles to further improving public safety. The six articles by Communications Daily journalists are the result of months of research, interviews, document reviews and public-records requests.

Nearly half the states have small-cells laws, with Arkansas the 23rd to enact a bill pre-empting local governments in the right of way to streamline 5G wireless infrastructure deployment. Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) held a ceremonial signing Thursday after the legislature last week passed HB-1874 (see 1904040046) “This legislation will ensure residents of Arkansas receive the investment and benefits that 5G will bring to American communities,” said CTIA Senior Vice President-State Affairs Jamie Hastings in a statement. Hutchinson last week signed telecom bills to support next-generation 911 and curb caller ID spoofing (see 1904030063).

FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly urged New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island governors to end 911 fee shifting. “The practice of diverting 9-1-1 fees gives your states proverbial black eyes, harms public safety, and makes your states ineligible for funding to modernize your emergency call centers,” O'Rielly wrote in an April 5 letter, released Tuesday, to Democrats Andrew Cuomo of New York, Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island. The FCC said those states lead the practice (see 1812190059). “The mere act undermines the willingness of consumers, feeling duped by their local and state representatives, to support current levels and future raises in program spending, even when there is a compelling need to modernize individual systems,” O’Rielly said. Diversion reduces “overall support for the entire fee structure, even in areas outside your states,” and “shortchanges the budgets of emergency call centers and has prevented systems from being upgraded,” the commissioner said. The governors didn't comment.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai praised the 911 Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services (Saves) Act in a Tuesday tweet. The bill would change the federal government's classification of public safety call-takers and dispatchers to “protective service occupations" rather than administrative or clerical occupations (see 1902280072). “Call-takers and dispatchers do heroic work every day, as I’ve seen in big cities and small towns alike,” Pai said. “They deserve our support.” Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., filed a Senate version S-1015 last week. Reps. Norma Torres, D-Calif., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., filed a House version HR-1629 in March. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel and APCO also support the bill (see 1904050054).

APCO is asking its members to urge Congress to pass the 911 Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services (Saves) Act, which would change the federal government's classification of public safety call-takers and dispatchers to “protective service occupations" rather than administrative or clerical occupations (see 1902280072). Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., filed a Senate version S-1015 last week. Reps. Norma Torres, D-Calif., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., filed a House version HR-1629 last month. "It's time for a full-court press on Congress," for the 911 Saves Act, APCO emailed members, urging them to "generate an email to your U.S. Senators and Representatives, asking them to co-sponsor this common sense, zero-cost bill." FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel also praised the bill in a Wednesday tweet, saying it "honors 911 operators across the country by classifying their occupation with the dignity they deserve as public safety professionals. Good stuff."

Comments on a Further NPRM proposing vertical accuracy standards for wireless calls indoors to 911 are due May 20 in docket 07-114, replies June 18. The FNPRM is slated for Federal Register publication Thursday. The FCC approved the rulemaking in March; Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel dissented and Commissioner Geoffrey Starks partially dissented (see 1903150067).

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai repeatedly avoided commenting Wednesday on whether the agency, to do its job, needs more money than it sought in its $335.6 million budget request to Congress. “I want you to tell me, do you need more money?” interrupted Rep. Sanford Bishop. D-Ga., during a House Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee hearing on the FCC budget after Pai had several times started to say the agency would use the current request wisely. After much back and forth, Pai said the FCC could discharge its functions with the current request or additional funds.

The FCC has been too slow to address complaints AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint are selling customers' real-time location data to bounty hunters (see 1901080046), Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said Tuesday. Starks cited the dangers of the practice during a February news conference shortly after he took office (see 1902080056) and called for action in an opinion article in Tuesday's The New York Times. “Our location information isn’t supposed to be used without our knowledge and consent and no chain of handoffs or contracts can eliminate the wireless company’s obligations,” Starks wrote. “This is particularly true for the misuse and disclosure of GPS-based 911 location data -- which is squarely against FCC rules.” The FCC says it's investigating, he said: “But nearly a year after the news first broke, the commission has yet to issue an enforcement action or fine those responsible.” The FCC didn't comment.