APCO proposed some edits to the proposed record refresh on improving how wireless 911 calls are routed to the appropriate first responders, teed up for a vote at the June 8 FCC commissioners' meeting (see 2205180065). “The edits we offer are intended to improve the record to be developed by clarifying that ‘Next Generation 9-1-1,’ as defined by the public safety community, has not yet been fully deployed, and that ‘transitional NG9-1-1’ environments entail the deployment of emergency services IP networks (ESInets) that are intended to implement some call-delivery elements of an end-state NG9-1-1 environment,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 18-64. AT&T’s recent announcement it will provide location-based routing nationwide “illustrates, as APCO has previously commented, that wireless carriers can implement location-based routing regardless of whether an ESInet is in place,” APCO said.
State telecom industry groups seek to stop LTD Broadband from receiving promised Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) funding in Minnesota and South Dakota. The efforts to deny eligible telecom carrier (ETC) status to the company are the latest in a growing number of state hurdles LTD faces as it tries to secure funding it preliminarily won from FCC auction. Some said the situation shows state ETC designation review’s value, but former Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said the process isn’t working.
AT&T said Tuesday it's the first carrier to launch location-based routing to automatically transmit wireless 911 calls to the appropriate public safety answering point, using technology from Intrado. “AT&T can quickly and more accurately identify where a wireless 9-1-1 call is coming from using device GPS and hybrid information to route the call to the correct 9-1-1 call center,” the company said: “With location-based routing, a device can be located and routed within 50 meters of the device location. Prior to this launch, wireless 9-1-1 calls were routed based on the location of cell towers, which can cover up to a 10-mile radius.” The carrier rolled out the service to 16 states and Guam, with full nationwide coverage expected to be completed by the end of next month, it said.
Industry counseled against FCC regulation on vulnerabilities to the security and integrity of border gateway protocols (BGP), in early comments on a February notice of inquiry from the FCC (see 2202250062). Cisco and other commenters said the issues are difficult and complex and require an international approach. The notice is part of the FCC’s cybersecurity focus as it looks at vulnerabilities posed by Russian companies (see 2203180051).
The Florida House voted 103-8 to pass a comprehensive privacy bill Wednesday with a private right of action (PRA). HB-9 sponsor Rep. Fiona McFarland (R) “stood strong against an onslaught of special interest opposition to do what is right for the people of Florida,” said Speaker Chris Sprowls (R) at the livestreamed floor session. The House bill's fate is uncertain in the Senate, which opposed including a PRA in the privacy bill that passed the House last year.
Senate Antitrust Subcommittee Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said Monday she hopes to “somehow combine” the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (HR-3816/S-2992), the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (HR-1735/S-673) and other Big Tech-focused bills “and get a vote on the Senate floor” on the package this year. Klobuchar and other lawmakers who support HR-1735/S-673 encouraged NAB members to press members of Congress to back a combined package, during a Monday event. NAB sees HR-1735/S-673 as one of its top 2022 priorities (see 2202110068), as members plan to meet with lawmakers Tuesday.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel asked Congress Tuesday to reauthorize FCC auction authority, set to expire Sept. 30, and allow the agency to use auction funds to pay for improvements to 911. Speaking at an event celebrating the 10th anniversary of FirstNet, Rosenworcel said “it’s time to do something similar for 911.” Rosenworcel conceded getting such legislation through Congress won’t be easy.
Wireless issues top APCO's 2022 regulatory priorities, the group posted Thursday. Improving location accuracy for wireless calls to 911 leads the list, followed by protecting public safety use of the 6 GHz band and revising rules for 4.9 GHz, said Chief Counsel Jeff Cohen. Securing “major federal funding to implement Next Generation 9-1-1 nationwide” topped legislative priorities.
Jenner & Block elects lawyers to the partnership, including Jacob Tracer, member of Content, Media and Entertainment Practice focusing on "intellectual property and complex commercial disputes," and Camillie Landron, member of Communications, Internet and Technology Practice, working on FCC spectrum and other telecom issues and with the "space and satellite industries."
National Emergency Number Association CEO Brian Fontes urged the Senate Monday to restore “full funding” for next-generation 911 tech upgrades when it takes up the House-passed Build Back Better Act budget reconciliation package. The HR-5376 version passed last week (see 2111190042) includes $490 million for NG-911. That’s less than 5% of the $10 billion the House Commerce Committee proposed in September (see 2109140063); $470 million would go to tech upgrades and $20 million for NTIA to administer the program. The measure also allocates $1 million for NTIA to set up a Public Safety NG-911 Advisory Board. That money would represent “the largest federal investment in 9-1-1 in history” and “we appreciate that,” Fontes said in a statement. “However, it is less than” what House Commerce sought and “less than 4% of the $12 billion” NTIA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommended in 2018.