Prioritize 911 workers for COVID-19 vaccinations, the National Emergency Number Association said Friday. “Sadly, while the federal government and statehouses across the country have designated 9-1-1 professionals as essential workers throughout the pandemic, many states are not recognizing these public servants as essential when it comes to the distribution of coronavirus vaccines,” NENA CEO Brian Fontes wrote governors.

Five states diverted more than $200 million of 911 fee revenue -- about 6.6% of all such money -- for unrelated purposes in 2019, the FCC reported Tuesday. That’s about $2 million more than the same states were reported to divert in 2018 (see 1912190077). Outgoing Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said he did what he could.

Punishing state 911 fee diverters could worsen funding problems for the emergency call system and might be ineffective, commented local and public safety groups this week in docket 20-291. Penalizing local governments for states’ decisions is “much like sending your daughter to bed without dinner because your son took a cookie from the jar without permission,” the National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA) responded to the FCC notice of inquiry. “The two siblings are related, but the response is not.”

Do more to discourage states and local governments from diverting 911 fees, CTIA said in a filing posted Monday in docket 20-291. Comments were due Monday on a notice of inquiry (see 2009300050) approved 5-0 in September. It is critical that the $2.6 billion in 9-1-1 fees collected annually from wireless consumers be used for their intended purpose of improving 9-1-1 services,” CTIA said. Further action could include “providing guidance as to what expenditures qualify as ‘in support of’ 9-1-1 and encouraging other federal agencies to condition grant funding on non-diversion of 9-1-1 funds,” the group said: “Simply identifying diverting states has not been sufficient.” Refrain from rules putting new requirements on carriers, including reporting diversion under FCC truth-in-billing rules, the association asked.

Industry and the National Emergency Number Association agreed the FCC needs to do more work before reporting to Congress on feasibility and cost of making Wi-Fi access points and other communications technologies available for access to 911 during times of emergency. Replies on a Public Safety Bureau notice were due Friday in docket 20-285. The FCC must file a report as a requirement of Ray Baum’s Act. “In light of the significant technical and security issues raised in this proceeding about relying on Wi-Fi access points as a backup for wireless 9-1-1, the FCC should seek the guidance of relevant technical expert bodies on these issues prior to submitting its study to Congress,” CTIA said. Access points supported by fixed wireline are “just as challenged as mobile wireless services to remain operational during severe emergencies,” it said: “Other Commission proceedings demonstrate the increasing resilience of mobile wireless networks even where fixed wireline backhaul and commercial power is unavailable for extended periods of time.” Connecting through access points “appears to be technically feasible, but work must be done to ensure quality assurance to 9-1-1 and to its callers,” NENA commented. Such connections “must meet, at the very least, the public’s expectations for reliability and service; meeting these expectations may be challenging absent regulatory authority,” the group said. ACA Connects said it’s not “technically feasible” today to use Wi-Fi “to provide a backup path to 911 when mobile networks are down.”

Reported 911 dispatching issues in Washington alarmed Republican House Commerce Committee ranking members. Greg Walden of Oregon from the full panel, Communications Subcommittee's Robert Latta of Ohio and Environment Subcommittee's John Shimkus of Illinois asked District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) Thursday for a briefing “to better understand the failure of the ... emergency dispatch system, including whether the 9-1-1 system played a role,” the members wrote Thursday. Not everyone welcomed what they consider politicization.

Managed access systems (MAS) aren't an effective solution to contraband cellphones in correctional facilities, the Correctional Leaders Association (CLA) said in reply comments on the FCC’s July record refresh on the item. Senate Republicans and others urged the FCC to put jamming on the table, which carriers strongly oppose (see 2009170053). Comments were posted Friday in docket 13-111. CTIA contends MAS technologies are “operational and successful today,” CLA said. “Corrections institutions face many challenges with using MAS,” the group commented: “Multiple departments of correction” have used MAS technologies “and they have not been overwhelmingly effective. The problem with MAS is not only the cost, operational burdens, and logistical issues that were cited in various CTIA comments, but the fundamental fact that MAS systems are not effective.” CTIA opposes micro-jamming but has never conducted field tests, CLA said. “Correctional facilities always have the ability to use landlines to call 9-1-1 and can even turn off the jamming system in the event of an emergency,” the group said. “Jamming also does not interfere with radios or any frequencies with which the jamming system is not designed to interfere.” CTIA disagreed. MAS, “available and proven today, is the most effective contraband interdiction solution, and MAS-Evolved will be even more efficient and effective,” CTIA said. Alternatives to MAS “are similarly expensive without offering the clear advantages of MAS,” the association said. CTIA said jamming isn’t a viable option: “Because of their indiscriminate nature, jamming mechanisms endanger legitimate communications -- including public safety communications and 9-1-1 calls -- both within and near correctional facilities. Moreover, jamming does not offer the cost savings that some have suggested.” The FCC made jamming illegal for “good reasons” and it's “a grave risk to public safety,” AT&T said: “Reject calls for carriers to freeze technology evolutions or degrade service around prisons. Such efforts would have minimal benefit in the fight against contraband device use while having unintended consequences for consumers and businesses located in proximity to prisons.” A court-order process to terminate service to contraband devices “best provides the assurances that contraband devices are correctly identified, correctional facilities personnel requesting termination have provided sufficient justification for the request, and wireless carriers are specifically authorized to take the actions requested and are protected from liability for potential violations the Communications Act and other statutes,” T-Mobile commented.

CTIA sought reconsideration of rules and timelines approved by FCC commissioners in July for finding the vertical location of wireless callers to 911 (see 2007160055). The order affirms the 2021 and 2023 z-axis requirements and rejects a proposal to weaken them. The order recognized “the COVID-19 pandemic could impact the testing and deployment of 9-1-1 location accuracy solutions, but no one anticipated today’s challenges,” said Monday's petition in docket 07-114. “These changed circumstances have derailed the prospects for achieving the [order’s] timelines,” the group said: “Recently adopted and evolving government restrictions and building access limitations have delayed testing necessary.”

Senate Communications Subcommittee members intermingled questions about FirstNet’s progress during a Thursday hearing with forays into how broader communications policy could affect the public safety broadband network. Subcommittee Chairman John Thune R-S.D., and others at times focused on whether legislation to further streamline permitting processes would aid FirstNet’s deployment. FirstNet CEO Edward Parkinson and AT&T Senior Vice President-FirstNet Program Jason Porter highlighted their progress in building the network and expressed willingness to carry out GAO recommendations that it improve communications with stakeholders (see 2009170071).

The debate over whether the FCC should allow nonfederal correctional facilities to jam contraband phones was reignited. CTIA said other solutions are enough. Seven Republican senators said jamming should be an option. Comments were filed Thursday in docket 13-111, in response to a July record refresh. Ajit Pai has expressed concerns about the danger of contraband devices since before he became commission chairman (see 1604060058). Two years ago, Pai convened a Contraband Phone Task Force (see 1904260029). Public safety experts said it’s unclear Pai will do more in his remaining time as chairman given a crowded agenda.