The FCC must be aware of limitations faced by 911 call centers if it imposes a requirement that industry move from text telephone (TTY) to real-time text (RTT) technology, APCO said. The National Emergency Number Association backed a phased transition when the FCC took comments over the summer (see 1607270022). APCO said in a filing in docket 16-145 that its representatives and representatives of the National Association of State 9-1-1 Administrators met with FCC officials to discuss concerns. “RTT has the potential to enable faster, more robust text communications with 9-1-1 than TTY or SMS, but its support for implementation of RTT is contingent upon compatibility with TTY and existing IP-based solutions, to the extent Public Safety Answering Points have adopted them,” APCO said. “APCO also re-emphasized the need to ensure interoperability to avoid the challenge of integrating different solutions and interfaces.”

Wireless and public safety officials updated the FCC Public Safety Bureau on their joint progress toward meeting new requirements for wireless 911 location accuracy reporting. The agency released its fourth report and order on the subject in February 2015. “Parties discussed the template the carriers intend to use when reporting live 9-1-1 call data on a quarterly basis or upon request of a Public Safety Answering Point, as required by the Order,” said a filing in docket 07-114. Representatives of AT&T Mobility, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, CTIA, APCO and the National Emergency Number Association attended.

CTIA is raising concerns about the FCC’s proposed new rules for wireless emergency alerts, saying the agency must give industry ample time to adapt to any rule change. Commissioners vote on revised WEA rules at their Sept. 29 meeting (see 1609080083). Industry objections are raising at least some concerns among the commissioners, though it's unclear how much the rules will be tweaked before next week’s vote, agency and industry officials told us.

The National Emergency Number Association said the transition from text telephone (TTY) to real-time text (RTT) technology is critical, but the FCC should take into account concerns of 911 call centers. NENA recommended a phased rollout to address public safety concerns. Industry'smajor concern has been that the FCC not micromanage how carriers deploy RTT, but NENA raised another matter (see 1607260020).

NASHVILLE -- A growing number of public safety answering points support text-to-911, but there’s more work to be done, an FCC official said Monday at the NARUC Summer Committee Meetings. On the same telecom committee panel, a 911 analyst for the Colorado Public Utilities Commission said he has had to bust myths to convince PSAPs to support emergency SMS. In 2014, the FCC required all carriers to support text-to-911 nationwide, but it was left up to PSAPs and local jurisdictions when to support the capability.

The FCC released a pleading cycle Tuesday on AT&T’s proposed buy of 700 MHz licenses in New Mexico from Fuego Wireless. The companies proposed that AT&T buy three lower 700 MHz B-block licenses and a single C-block license. The FCC also sent follow-up questions to both companies. “Applicants maintain that the proposed transaction would provide AT&T with additional spectrum that would enable it to increase its system capacity to enhance existing services, better accommodate its overall growth, and facilitate the provision of additional products and services in four Cellular Market Areas,” the FCC said. With the buys, AT&T would have 24 MHz of contiguous, paired 700 MHz spectrum in all but one of the 19 counties covered, the notice said. The spectrum covers Las Cruces, Catron, Santa Fe and Lincoln, all in New Mexico, the FCC said. “Post-transaction, AT&T would hold 100 to 175 megahertz of spectrum in total, including 18 to 55 megahertz of below-1-GHz spectrum, in these four CMAs,” so the deal is slated to get a more intense review, the FCC said. Petitions to deny are due July 26, oppositions Aug. 2, replies Aug. 9. AT&T must answer several pages of questions in the information request.

The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously signed off Wednesday on the Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act (S-827), the Securing Access to Networks in Disasters (Sandy) Act (S-2997) and the nomination of Peg Gustafson for Commerce Department inspector general. This is likely the last markup before the long summer recess, said Chairman John Thune, R-S.D. NARUC, NTCA and WTA lauded the call completion legislation.

The bipartisan, bicameral leaders of the Congressional Next Generation 911 Caucus sent a letter Thursday to White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Administrator Howard Shelanski pressing the administration to “update the classification of 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers as part of the revisions to the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC),” they said. “The ongoing revision process to SOC announced in May 2014 provides an opportunity to more accurately reflect the role of 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers.” They said its revisions should recognize “the public safety role played by Public Safety Telecommunicators through categorization with their ‘Protective Service Occupations.’” Act “quickly to publish the recommendations of the SOC Policy Committee in the Federal Register,” they said. The letter was signed by Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Reps. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and John Shimkus, R-Ill. “Throughout the revision process, APCO has staunchly advocated for public safety telecommunicators to be classified in the category for ‘protective’ occupations, alongside police officers and firefighters,” CEO Derek Poarch said. “I am optimistic that this letter of bipartisan, bicameral support, urging revisions of the SOC that align with APCO’s recommendations will aid our ongoing efforts.”

A House Democratic leadership aide told us Democrats are likely to rebel against the FY 2017 FCC funding bill and stand-alone legislation to curb the Lifeline program, both being brought to the House floor this week. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., is attempting to get two different proposals addressing the Lifeline program through the floor, one as a Financial Services bill amendment (see 1606170060) and another as stand-alone legislation being considered Tuesday under suspension of the rules.

The three states said to divert the most 911 fee revenue for non-911 purposes look unlikely to quit the practice soon, we found last week after surveying state officials including legislators and bodies that lobby for emergency operations. At least two states -- New York and Rhode Island -- have pending legislation to require that 911 fee revenue fund only 911 services. Passage could be difficult because the bills are written by members of political minority parties and state governors won’t say 911 fee diversion is a problem, said those we interviewed. In New Jersey, a bill requiring an upgrade to next-generation 911 raises 911 fees, despite FCC estimates that the state diverts nearly 90 percent of its fund. In 2014, eight states diverted $223.4 million, or 8.8 percent of all 911 funds, said the FCC's most-recent report to Congress about 911 fee collection (see 1601080057).