WASHINGTON-The big debate at last week’s Federal Communication Commission enhanced 911 technology round table was not over the technical issues but rather over the policy issues.
Still left to be decided is whether the Oct. 1, 2001, date for compliance with Phase II E911 will be extended. Clarifications also need to be made so carriers will know how to comply with the law.
The National Emergency Number Association said it opposes the FCC delaying the 2001 deadline to implement Phase II E911 services.
Phase II requires carriers to provide public safety answering points with automatic location information accurate to 125 meters, or 410 feet, for wireless users dialing 911.
Since the deadline for Phase I-April 1, 1998-largely has been unmet, many question whether Phase II will be implemented on time.
The message about clarifying compliance got through to at least one key FCC staffer. Dale Hatfield, chief of the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology and moderator of the round table, said the FCC needs to make “sure that compliance is unambiguous. We need to take a hard look at that from an engineering standpoint.”
The FCC expects to make a decision by the end of the summer.