FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly applauded West Virginia for enacting a law on the state’s diversion of 911 fee revenue to unrelated purposes (see 2001070025). Gov. Jim Justice (R) signed SB-579 Wednesday, which clarifies how money is used by establishing three separate funds, for 911, public safety wireless and cell towers. “Not perfect but stops consumer deception,” O’Rielly tweeted Friday. Justice worked with O’Rielly and FCC staff, the GOP commissioner said. That leaves Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York and at least one Nevada county on the FCC’s list of diverters (see 1912190077). Justice also signed a bill (HB-4619) Wednesday empowering electric utilities to deploy middle-mile fiber broadband (see 2003090033).

CTIA, AT&T and T-Mobile said the FCC should reject the Boulder Emergency Telephone Service Authority’s (BRETSA) petition (see 1912270038) for the FCC to reconsider part of rules commissioners approved in November requiring carriers provide height above ellipsoid data from wireless calls to 911, within 3 meters accuracy for 80 percent of calls, starting in the largest markets next month (see 1911220034). Oppositions were posted Thursday in docket 07-114. CTIA said the FCC reviewed and rejected the authority’s proposals. “BRETSA’s request to compel the Test Bed and wireless providers to provide public safety with standards and procedures for testing the correlation of Z-axis information to floor level is both premature and unnecessary,” CTIA said. Granting the petition “would add [a] significant and unjustified burden on wireless providers in their efforts to successfully deploy z-axis technologies by the upcoming April 2021 deadline and … delay rollout,” AT&T said. The FCC was right to reject BRETSA proposals in drafting its rules, the carrier said: “The record in this proceeding showed that relying on the testbed would be the most practical and cost-effective method.” T-Mobile said BRETSA is wrong in calling for proof of performance testing: “The record overwhelmingly confirms that representative testing via the transparent and collaborative test bed remains the only viable method.”

The FCC is unlikely to take additional actions soon mandating tougher rules for the vertical location accuracy of wireless calls to 911, said industry and public safety officials. Replies are posted through Monday in docket 07-114. In November, commissioners approved rules requiring carriers provide height above ellipsoid data from wireless calls to 911, within 3 meters accuracy for 80 percent of calls, starting in the largest markets in April 2021. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel voted no (see 1911220034).

Negotiations dragged on Monday on a third economic stimulus bill addressing the effects of COVID-19, with congressional lawmakers having yet to reach a bipartisan deal. A second bid for the Senate to invoke cloture on the legislative vehicle for the hoped-for compromise measure (HR-748) failed on a 49-46 vote amid continued Democratic objections to the current contours of a legislative proposal that has GOP buy-in. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was circulating her Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act counterproposal, which includes pandemic-specific Lifeline and distance learning funding.

President Donald Trump’s renomination of FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly Wednesday drew widespread praise. O’Rielly would serve a term ending June 30, 2024 (see 2003180070). His current term ended in June, but he can remain until this Congress ends at the beginning of 2021 (see 1910250039). “I am deeply appreciative of the President’s decision and his aggressive leadership on communications policy, including extensive efforts to bring broadband access to all Americans,” O’Rielly said. As a commissioner “I have advocated for preserving and advancing American free market principles to develop common sense regulation and eliminate unnecessary rules that hurt consumers.” It’s “gratifying to watch the private and public sectors pulling together to rise to the occasion” amid the COVID-19 pandemic and other “monumental challenges currently confronting our nation,” he said. Trump “made a wise choice,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. O’Rielly has “made many contributions to the work of the Commission, from his leadership on 3.5 GHz spectrum policy to his unwavering advocacy against state misuse of 911 funding. And when we were in the minority, he consistently stood on principle while being pragmatic.” O’Rielly’s “tireless work ethic has helped deliver many good wins for this country during his time on the Commission,” said Commissioner Brendan Carr. O’Rielly “is incredibly knowledgeable on communications policy matters and has contributed so much to the work of the agency,” said Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks also congratulated O’Rielly. CTIA President Meredith Baker highlighted O’Rielly for being “a champion for smart spectrum policies, ending 9-1-1 fee diversion.” NAB “supports the renomination,” said CEO Gordon Smith. Charter Communications, Comcast, the Competitive Carriers Association, Incompas, Wireless Infrastructure Association and Wireless ISP Association also applauded the renomination.

Keeping 911 call takers safe is critical to maintaining emergency call systems during the U.S. COVID-19 outbreak, said stakeholders in interviews this week. APCO, the National Emergency Number Association and National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA) leaders are less worried about a potential surge in calls as there might be in a hurricane. Wider deployment of next-generation 911 would give call takers and responders more flexibility, they said.

Maryland legislators delivered a 911 audit bill to Gov. Larry Hogan (R). The Senate voted 46-0 Monday for HB-6, which would require wireline and wireless providers to keep records of 911 fees collected and remitted for at least four years, and require the state comptroller to adopt procedures for auditing surcharge collection and remittance. A February House vote also was unanimous (see 2002140051).

Broadcasters having satellite phones on hand and pressing more stations to sign up for the FCC's disaster information reporting system are among items the FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council is considering for dealing with emergencies. CSRIC adopted two working group reports Tuesday, one on broadcaster best practices and one on 911 interoperability in the transition from legacy to IP-based networks. The approved reports weren't posted Tuesday.

The FCC Public Safety Bureau reminded wireless providers they must file certifications of compliance with the agency’s E911 location accuracy benchmark by June 2. The benchmark requires carriers to provide, as of April 3, “dispatchable location or x/y location (latitude and longitude) information within a tolerance of 50 meters for 70% of all wireless 911 calls,” said a Monday notice in docket 07-114.

Puerto Rico has much to share about resiliency, FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said in a recent interview after he returned from a field hearing (see 2002260041). "There has not been a network or a people that has been as tested," he said of the hits they took from Hurricane Maria in 2017 and from earthquakes more recently.