Noting the high use of texting by populations particularly at risk to suicide, such as kids and minorities, the four FCC members on Thursday approved a Further NPRM on a mandate that carriers provide capabilities to text the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (see 2103310030). Also getting unanimous approvals at the commissioners' meeting were an order allocating spectrum for commercial space launches and an NPRM on setting a framework for informing 911 centers of network outages affecting them, as well as an NPRM on wireless mics in the TV and other bands and an order ending the 800 MHz rebranding process (see 2104220056). Commissioners also OK'd a $4.1 million slamming fine.

Fining major carriers for not meeting a Z-axis deadline doesn’t address the larger problem faced by wireless callers to 911, said Precision Broadband CEO Charles Simon in a call with an aide to acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. Major carriers sought more time to meet an April 3 deadline for vertical location on emergency calls. The FCC instead said the Enforcement Bureau will investigate whether providers are in compliance (see 2104020056). “Many enforcement actions result in multi-million dollar fines that make headlines but don’t remedy the problem,” said Tuesday's posting in docket 07-114.

A Pennsylvania bill meant to spur broadband by waiving Public Utility Commission ILEC rules “is not full deregulation,” stressed sponsor and Senate Communications Committee Chair Kristin Phillips-Hill (R) at a livestreamed meeting. The panel voted 7-3 for SB-341 and the same for SB-442 ordering an inventory of state-owned broadband assets. Also Tuesday and in California, a Senate panel supported a bill to increase PUC authority to check if state video franchisees are deploying enough broadband.

Some mental health interests think the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline needs more capacity to handle texts if the FCC requires covered carriers to provide text-to-988 service. Most Lifeline network call centers don't have the ability to accept text messages, "so more ... will have to add that capability," said Mental Health America Senior Director-Population Health Maddy Reinert Thursday. "Significant infrastructure investments will be required to ensure that people who text to 988 receive quick, effective responses and the help they need, and it is imperative for state and federal policymakers to improve our nation’s crisis response infrastructure and ensure adequate resources for this vital service," Reinert said. The Trevor Project said it "strongly supports" text-to-988 functionality, but "we must also acknowledge that implementing a text messaging feature nationwide would require building the Lifeline's current capacity [and] Congress must appropriate the funding." The National Alliance on Mental Illness earlier said Lifeline's current capacity could be challenged by 988 texts (see 2104130062). CTIA urged the FCC to use the same definition of "covered providers" as it does in its text-to-911 rules, per a docket 18-336 post Thursday on a meeting with aides to acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel about the text-to-988 Further NPRM on the April agenda.

National Emergency Number Association officials urged its members during a Tuesday event to lobby lawmakers to modify next-generation 911 language in the Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s (Lift) America Act (HR-1848) and pass the 911 Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services Act (HR-2351). Rep. Norma Torres, D-Calif., touted HR-2351 during the NENA event as necessary to “support and maintain the men and women of our 911 dispatcher community, who serve as our first emergency line of support.” The refiled measure would change the federal government's classification of public safety call-takers and dispatchers to "protective service occupations" (see 1904050054). NENA Government Affairs Director Dan Henry emphasized that the group backs HR-1848’s proposed $15 billion in NG-911 funding but seeks changes to some elements of the associated policy language, including broadening its definition of “commonly accepted standards,” clarifying its interoperability requirement and limiting the scope of a proposed NG-911 Advisory Board within NTIA (see 2104080003). “Both of the parties are hoping for a bipartisan solution here,” Henry said. He wants members to meet with House Commerce Committee lawmakers, as well as Senate Commerce Committee members, because a Senate-side companion to HR-1848 hasn't been filed.

Information collection requirements included in the FCC’s wireless E911 location accuracy rules were approved by the OMB and take effect Wednesday, says that day's Federal Register.

Public safety communications leaders told us they remain divided on the next-generation 911 language in the Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s (Lift) America Act (HR-1848) as the House Commerce Committee eyes how to proceed on the measure. HR-1848 allocates $15 billion for NG-911, along with $80 billion for broadband deployments (see 2103110060). The National Emergency Number Association and National Association of State 911 Administrators are continuing to press committee Democrats to modify HR-1848 language they view as impinging on existing NG-911 work. APCO continues to back the NG-911 provisions and countered opponents’ claims during a webinar last week.

The FCC Enforcement Bureau is investigating whether major wireless carriers are in compliance with rules requiring them to start delivering 911 callers’ vertical location information on calls in the top 25 cellular market areas by Saturday, the FCC said Friday. They're required to certify deployment by June 2. AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile asked for 18-month waivers of the requirement (see 2103050043). Public safety groups opposed delays (see 2011040032). “Today we are taking action to ensure that wireless providers deliver on their public safety obligations,” acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said: “The FCC adopted comprehensive rules to improve location information for 911 wireless calls back in 2015. But there has been too little progress since then, and I have consistently called on this agency to do more to ensure that our rules are delivering actionable information.” Accurate location information “is critical in emergency situations,” a Verizon spokesperson said: “It is a priority we share. But in this case there are technical requirements that are outside of our control.” Verizon will “continue to work constructively with the Commission and public safety stakeholders to achieve our common goals in the months ahead,” the spokesperson said. “We have spent years and significant resources to improve 911 by providing public safety accurate latitude and longitude information to locate a caller’s address,” said an AT&T spokesperson: “We continue to work with the FCC, our industry partners and public safety to help locate 911 callers in multi-story buildings by adding vertical location information that meets or exceeds accuracy benchmarks.” T-Mobile didn’t comment Friday. In a waiver request, AT&T said its “compliance depends in large part on the actions of others” and “on events outside of any party’s control.” Verizon and T-Mobile also said failure to meet the deadline was beyond their control (see here and here).

Some members of Congress are taking a tentative renewed look at legislation to reallocate proceeds from the FCC's recent auction of spectrum from the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band to pay for broadband, before Capitol Hill's debate over infrastructure spending. President Joe Biden proposes $2.3 trillion for infrastructure, including $100 billion for broadband (see 2103310064). Republicans criticized the administration for pursuing corporate tax increases to help pay for it.

Providers would have to implement texting to the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, space launches would get new spectrum, 911 outage reporting rules would be harmonized, and the 800 MHz rebanding would end, if all items on the agenda for the FCC commissioners' April 22 meeting are approved. Also on tap are an NPRM to revise technical rules for wireless microphones, an order to require disclosures for foreign-sponsored broadcast content, a public notice to cap applications at 10 for the upcoming noncommercial educational FM window, and an unspecified enforcement matter.