A New Hampshire panel punted on an RF safety bill that would require 5G telecom antennas to be placed at least 1,640 feet from residentially zoned areas, parks, schools, playgrounds, hospitals, nursing homes and day care centers. HB-1644, previewed by sponsor Rep. Patrick Abrami (D) this summer (see 2108230043), also would create a registry for anyone experiencing radiation exposure symptoms. At a livestreamed Monday meeting, the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee voted 17-4 to study the issue more rather than adopt HB-1644 now. Testimony clearly showed people suffered from various physical and neurological issues, and "there may be a correlation” to wireless emissions, but “the committee was uncertain as to the causation of such ailments,” said Vice Chairman Douglas Thomas (R). More study could lead to a compromise next session that will get more support, he said. Rep. Lucius Parshall (D), one of the no votes, said he would rather temporarily ban 5G deployment while the study happens. The state lacks authority to impose a moratorium, said Rep. Jacqueline Cali-Pitts (D), supporting more study. Thomas’ subcommittee voted 3-1 to recommend the interim study, at a meeting earlier Monday. “We've heard testimony pretty strongly on both sides of the fence, and it's very complex,” he said before that vote. “Unfortunately, this is an early bill. We would have liked to have been able to put together an amendment to make it more palatable ... but time won't allow us.” HB-1644 could “jeopardize” state emergency communications, Mark Doyle, New Hampshire Department of Safety Emergency Services and Communications director, testified between subcommittee and full committee votes. It could negatively affect public safety radios and 911 services because people are making more emergency calls from cellphones, he said. HB-1644 was based on a November 2020 report by Abrami and others on a state 5G commission that said the FCC could be ignoring wireless RF dangers due to industry influence (see 2011020046).
A 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel didn't “misapprehend or overlook any point of law or fact when it issued its order” in a Kentucky 911 case (21-5435), it decided Friday. The court denied CTIA’s request last month to rehear judges’ ruling that the U.S. District Court of Eastern Kentucky erred in concluding that a Kentucky 911 law conflicts with and is preempted by the 2018 federal Wireless Telecom Tax and Fee Collection Fairness Act (See 2112200038). CTIA didn’t comment now.
A Washington state committee cleared a proposed update to the state’s emergency communication law for next-generation 911. The House Appropriations Committee adopted HB-1703 by unanimous voice vote at a virtual hearing Thursday. Washington 911 “needs to stay up to date with modern technology,” said sponsor Rep. Cindy Ryu (D) at the hearing. The bill would also coordinate 911 with the state’s new 988 system, she said. The committee heard testimony but didn’t vote on digital equity and right-to-repair bills. CTIA opposed requiring carriers to participate in broadband adoption programs envisioned by HB-1723, which cleared another House committee earlier this month (see 2201180057). Such a mandate is preempted by federal law; legislators should make wireless participation voluntary, said CTIA lobbyist Jeff Gombosky. Seattle Digital Equity Program Manager David Keyes supported the adoption bill as a "critical companion to infrastructure support." Industry slammed HB-1810, which would require manufacturers to make documentation, parts and tools available to owners and independent repair providers on fair and reasonable terms. It passed another committee this month (see 2201190049). TechNet opposes requiring manufacturers to provide “unvetted third parties with sensitive diagnostic information and software, tools and parts without requiring the critical consumer protections afforded by authorized repair networks,” said Vice President-State Policy David Edmonson. The market gives consumers a wide range of repair choices, said CTIA Director-State Legislative Affairs Lisa McCabe. Adding a private right of action would reduce enforcement costs for the Washington attorney general’s office, suggested Consumer Protection Division Assistant AG Amy Teng.
Wireless issues top APCO's 2022 regulatory priorities, the group posted Thursday. Improving location accuracy for wireless calls to 911 leads the list, followed by protecting public safety use of the 6 GHz band and revising rules for 4.9 GHz, said Chief Counsel Jeff Cohen. Securing “major federal funding to implement Next Generation 9-1-1 nationwide” topped legislative priorities.
Commenters disagreed on the FCC's role in oversight and implementation of next-generation 911, in comments posted Thursday in docket 21-479 on the National Association of State 911 Administrators' (NASNA) petition seeking a rulemaking or notice of inquiry to fully implement NG-911 (see 2110190066). Some public safety organizations backed a rulemaking clarifying demarcation points for cost allocations.
Commenters disagreed whether the voluntary wireless network resiliency cooperative framework, launched in 2016, is working and whether to codify some or all of the framework, in reply comments posted in docket 21-346 through Wednesday. Commissioners approved a network resilience NPRM 4-0 in September, amid hints regulation could follow (see 2109300069). State and public interest groups want rules, which they say would make networks more resilient.
Two Communications Daily journalists received the National Press Club Journalism Award for newsletters Thursday for their coverage of D.C. 911 dispatching errors that put lives at stake. NPC President Lisa Matthews said a series of stories in 2020 by Adam Bender and Jonathan Make "illuminated problems plaguing the 911 system in Washington, D.C." Bender and Make's series begins here.
The omicron variant is the latest test for already stretched-thin 911 centers managing with the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency call officials told us last week. Public safety answering point (PSAP) professionals said staff taking sick leave is the main challenge. PSAPs are more prepared than they were at the beginning of the pandemic but are also experiencing higher-than-normal staffing issues amid a national trend of workers quitting jobs in the “Great Resignation,” said National Emergency Number Association (NENA) 911 and PSAP Operations Director April Heinze in an interview.
An FCC report showing a bump in 911 fee diversion in 2020 frustrated former Commissioner Mike O'Rielly and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). The agency reported that some states diverted more than $207 million in 2020. Don’t adopt a safe harbor or grace period to comply with the fee diversion order, said CTIA in comments posted Friday in docket 20-291 (see 2112210037). CTIA opposed petitions for reconsideration from Colorado’s Boulder Regional Emergency Telephone Service Authority and City of Aurora 911 Authority, saying the requests would “undermine Congress’s intent.”
Jenner & Block elects lawyers to the partnership, including Jacob Tracer, member of Content, Media and Entertainment Practice focusing on "intellectual property and complex commercial disputes," and Camillie Landron, member of Communications, Internet and Technology Practice, working on FCC spectrum and other telecom issues and with the "space and satellite industries."