In continued exchange between public safety community and CTIA on...
In continued exchange between public safety community and CTIA on thorny Enhanced 911 issues, CTIA Pres. Tom Wheeler wrote to 2 groups this week, elaborating on remaining challenges to implementation of Phase 2 before Oct. 1 deadline. Letter is…
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follow-up to strongly worded July 2 missive by CTIA to Assn. of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and National Emergency Number Assn. (NENA), from which some wireless carriers had distanced themselves. Wheeler wrote July 17 to NENA and APCO that he wants to “continue our dialogue” on joint E911 challenges. “The purpose of my previous letter was to inquire of your organizations how you intend to establish equivalent deliverable expectations for your members,” Wheeler wrote. Wheeler cited assertion by groups that public safety answering points (PSAPs) not ready to roll out Phase 2 of E911 today will be ready within 6 months after they submit Phase 2 request to particular wireless carrier. “With all due respect, that is exactly the heart of the problem I was trying to raise in my earlier correspondence,” Wheeler said. “With carrier-enabled handsets or networks available, consumers will expect location capability whether or not a particular PSAP has determined it wants to make a Phase 2 request.” Wheeler said wireless carriers will know whether they buy E911-capable handset or have local wireless network that supports this location-specific capability. “The only way they will have equivalent knowledge that the information being transmitted can be used for their safety is for all of America’s PSAPs to step up and commit to a parallel implementation schedule,” Wheeler said. He noted that “major problems” still must be worked out concerning Phase One capabilities for E911. “Since Phase One is a technical precursor to Phase 2, should not those problems get worked out before Phase 2 makes things even more difficult,” Wheeler asked in detailed 7-page letter. Wheeler said that point of his previous correspondence was to seek similar commitment by PSAPs to deal with these issues in manner in which solutions are binding on every PSAP. Structure is needed, for example, on whether location-specific information will be processed by PSAPs using SS-7 protocol or IP format, Wheeler said. “The regulatory process is imposing uniform requirements on wireless carriers, what will be the equivalent solution for your members,” Wheeler said.