Washington, D.C.’s 911 office will be audited (see 2009240064) after concerns raised by the media and local and federal officials about possible dispatching mistakes, the Office of D.C. Auditor said Thursday. A final report could be finished May 15, said a request for proposals. District of Columbia Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 4B01’s Evan Yeats requested the audit and Thursday applauded Auditor Kathleen Patterson, who earlier said the office was considering such a move (see 2008070042). Other stakeholders also backed the review.

Opponents of states using 911 fees for unrelated purposes support an FCC notice of inquiry proposed for vote at Wednesday’s meeting. Some want earlier action and wonder what the future holds, since the item’s main FCC champion, Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, is likely leaving. The agency would ask how to dissuade states from diverting 911 fees and the impact of the practice (see 2009090048).

The Washington, D.C., auditor is issuing a request for proposals to audit the city's 911 dispatching agency after it came under fire from local stakeholders for what appears to some to be a pattern of mistakes affecting fire-rescue response. The Office of the D.C. Auditor had said it was considering such a move.

The debate over whether the FCC should allow nonfederal correctional facilities to jam contraband phones was reignited. CTIA said other solutions are enough. Seven Republican senators said jamming should be an option. Comments were filed Thursday in docket 13-111, in response to a July record refresh. Ajit Pai has expressed concerns about the danger of contraband devices since before he became commission chairman (see 1604060058). Two years ago, Pai convened a Contraband Phone Task Force (see 1904260029). Public safety experts said it’s unclear Pai will do more in his remaining time as chairman given a crowded agenda.

The Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council easily approved three reports by its working groups Wednesday, including on risks to stand-alone 5G networks from new standards by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and on standard operating procedures for emergency alerts. None was immediately made available by the FCC.

First responder concerns about accuracy of emergency dispatching in the nation's capital took another turn in the early hours of Wednesday. Fire-rescue personnel lectured 911 staff during questioning about where on Southern Avenue in the Southeast quadrant Washington's Fire and EMS Department should respond for someone with chest pains. Later in the day, the firefighter's union weighed in on overall 911 dispatching accuracy concerns.

The bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus began pressing Tuesday for alternate COVID-19 aid legislation that includes broadband funding, amid a renewed push for a compromise. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., wants the chamber to remain in session until passage. Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., and Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., during appearances at an Incompas event cited the need for COVID-19 legislation to address broadband. House Republicans cited broadband access in their preelection “Commitment to America” plan as a priority if their party regains a majority in the chamber.

Lawmakers will probably not be able to repeal the 2012 Spectrum Act's mandate for public safety to move off the 470-512 MHz T band until Congress’ post-election lame-duck session because of the likely lack of a viable legislative vehicle before that time, officials and lobbyists told us. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai simultaneously circulated an auction NPRM and urged Congress in May to repeal the mandate (see 2005150053) because the sale was “a bad idea.”

The FCC posted items for commissioners’ Sept. 30 meeting Wednesday, including on spectrum items targeting the use of 3.45-3.55 GHz for 5G, long sought by carriers, and rewriting the rules for the 4.9 GHz band. NTIA weighed in on 3.45-3.55 (see 2009090058). Drafts were also circulated on an order cutting IP captioned telephone service rates. Chairman Ajit Pai laid out the agenda Tuesday (see 2009080068).

FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly’s future remains in limbo more than a month after President Donald Trump withdrew his renomination (see 2008030072), officials and lobbyists told us. Republican senators returned Tuesday from the August recess without a clear outcome from their push for Trump to reverse course (see 2008060062). Officials we spoke with indicated the White House hasn’t settled on a new candidate for the GOP seat.