The Ohio Public Utilities Commission put off to May 7 a decision ...

providing 911 voice service from every type of mobile or landline telecom device. The PUC was to vote Wednesday in Case 08-287-TP-UNC, but commissioners opted for an extra week of study. The Ohio chapters of the National Emergency Number Association and Association of Public Safety Communications Officials sought the rulemaking. They said incumbent telcos’ existing 911 services aren’t keeping pace with landline and mobile advances in the 911 market and want the state to take the lead in setting standards for applying IP-based technology to 911 service. The Ohio Telecom Association, Cincinnati Bell and AT&T opposed the petition as counterproductive. They said today’s system supports all types of provider including VoIP and wireless. They said any perception that incumbents are lagging at adopting advanced 911 technologies is caused by the need for foolproof security and integrity before IP-based 911 services can be adopted. Foes urged the PUC to keep taking part in and monitoring efforts at the FCC and elsewhere relating to next-generation 911 but refrain from developing state-specific standards at risk of being pre-empted by U.S. standards. The NENA national organization also cautioned the PUC to go slow. It said the evolution to next-generation 911 service “should be treated as a national project in which individual state action must be appropriately coordinated with other state and national activities.” The national NENA said states should analyze how their laws and regulations may slow development and deployment of next-generation 911 and make changes to help the service. But the 911 Industry Alliance and competitive 911 provider Intrado Communications urged the PUC to go ahead with its rulemaking. They said that holding off and waiting for national policies could put at risk Ohio’s ability to ensure the public’s continued safety.