APCO urged the FCC to ask for a substantial amount of data from carriers in its reporting forms for the new mandatory disaster response initiative (MDRI). CTIA counseled flexibility and the need to keep data confidential. CTIA and the Competitive Carriers Association also petitioned the FCC for partial reconsideration of the FCC’s MDRI order and additional clarity (see 2207070060).

Washington, D.C.’s, 911 center did little in response to recommendations in an October audit that found the Office of Unified Communications (OUC) failed in many months to meet national standards for getting timely help to callers, said a follow-up report Friday. Of 31 recommendations, OUC completed one, made “minimal progress” on 24, and “no observed progress” on two, said the Office of D.C. Auditor (ODCA): OUC still faces issues identified in the original audit, “including call-taking confusion, glitches in dispatch operations, and insufficient management follow-up on after-action reviews.”

The House passed the Spectrum Innovation Act (HR-7624) and three other telecom and tech bills Wednesday night, drawing praise from lawmakers and some stakeholders. The chamber voted 336-90 for an en bloc package that included HR-7624 and two of the other bills, the Reporting Attacks from Nations Selected for Oversight and Monitoring Web Attacks and Ransomware from Enemies Act (HR-4551) and Safe Connections Act (HR-7132). Lawmakers voted 416-12 for the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID–19 Act (HR-4040). HR-7132 and HR-7624 "provide our nation’s mobile networks with the spectrum resources necessary to provide next-generation wireless technologies, promote wireless innovation, fund important public safety priorities like Next Generation 9-1-1, and ensure that phone contracts cannot be used to perpetuate abuse when survivors and abusers share a phone contract," said House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa. "The bipartisan bills passed today will enhance spectrum management, strengthen public safety communications tools" and "secure our networks from countries like China," said House Commerce ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Communications ranking member Bob Latta, R-Ohio. Matt Mandel, Wireless Infrastructure Association senior vice president-government and public affairs, praised lawmakers for "prioritizing America’s leadership in wireless network innovation by voting to make more spectrum available for commercial and shared use" via HR-7624. The measure would renew the FCC's auction authority through March 31, 2024, and authorize sales of 3.1-3.45 GHz spectrum licenses. "Making additional Federal spectrum resources available for commercial use will provide significant benefits for the industry, the economy, and most importantly, consumers," said Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry: HR-7132 "will help survivors of domestic violence remain connected."

Public safety groups and carriers continue to clash on what actions, if any, the FCC should take to ensure use of location-based routing (LBR) to 911 call centers. The disagreement surfaced in replies to a June public notice, approved by commissioners 4-0 (see 2206080040). T-Mobile warned that no consensus is emerging as a result of the record refresh.

Public safety groups urged the FCC to push for more use of location-based routing (LBR) to 911 call centers, in response to a June public notice, approved by commissioners 4-0 (see 2206080040). T-Mobile said how industry addresses the issue should be voluntary without the imposition of new FCC rules. AT&T and T-Mobile said implementation has to be done carefully and takes time.

The biggest apparent policy cut in the FCC’s wireless resiliency rules released Wednesday (see 2207060070) overrules objections by the Competitive Carriers Association and NTCA that the rules shouldn’t apply to small providers. The order creates the mandatory disaster response initiative (MDRI), replacing the industry’s wireless voluntary network resiliency cooperative framework.

The FCC unanimously approved a public notice seeking to refresh the record on improving how wireless 911 calls are routed to the appropriate first responders (see 2206060052), as expected. Commissioners at Wednesday's meeting also agreed to propose a $34,000 fine against an Idaho man for allegedly interfering with emergency communications as firefighters took on a wildfire, the largest fine of its kind, officials said.

An FCC record refresh on improving how wireless 911 calls are routed to the appropriate first responders is expected to be approved 4-0 by commissioners at their monthly meeting Wednesday. The final version is likely to incorporate some language sought by APCO (see 2206010027), said FCC and industry officials. The National Emergency Number Association doesn’t support those changes. APCO was the lone party to file comments in docket 18-62 after the FCC posted the draft.

AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon filed certifications at the FCC saying they're in compliance with a requirement they provide vertical-location information on wireless calls to 911, as required by a June 2021 consent decree (see 2106030086). The filings were due at the FCC Thursday and posted in docket 17-78 (see here, here and here). The National Emergency Number Association, meanwhile, applauded a CTIA report saying nationwide wireless carriers, working with Apple and Google, can provide accurate vertical location information on wireless calls to 911 (see 2206020068). “NENA is pleased that the 9-1-1 Location Technologies Test Bed … filing reported that device-based hybrid (DBH) z-axis location solutions were successful in improving location accuracy consistent with” FCC requirements, emailed President Brian Fontes: “NENA continues to support aligning commercial research and development for location services with the needs of improved location accuracy used for public safety purposes.”

CTIA told the FCC Thursday nationwide wireless carriers, working with Apple and Google, can provide accurate vertical location information on wireless calls to 911, based on tests by the industry’s 911 Location Technologies Test Bed. CTIA said AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon also verified the results independently. “We are proud to report the testing validates that device-based hybrid (DBH) z-axis location technology solutions, Google’s Android Emergency Location Service (ELS) and Apple’s Hybridized Emergency Location (HELO), together achieve ± 3-meter accuracy for at least 80 percent of wireless 9-1-1 calls,” said a filing in docket 07-114. The companies faced a 2021 deadline to be able to deliver vertical location data in the top 25 cellular market areas. CTIA said the COVID-19 pandemic delayed testing. “Despite the challenges of the pandemic, including building access, delayed permissions to enter, a compressed testing schedule, and more, the 9-1-1 Location Technologies Test Bed completed testing across more than 1,000 test points,” CTIA Chief Technology Officer Tom Sawanobori blogged: “The tests were more extensive than any previous test campaign, including a greater variety of test regions -- from dense, urban environments to rural communities -- a broader diversity of test buildings (taking into account various heights, construction materials, and building uses), 15 test devices, and more test points per building.”