WASHINGTON-AT&T Wireless Services Inc. agreed on Wednesday to pay $2 million to the U.S. Treasury following revelations that it was not deploying enhanced 911 Phase II in the manner that it had said it would.
The $2 million fine represents a slight reduction from the $2.2 million proposed by the Federal Communications Commission earlier this year.
“This agreement clears the way for us to focus on what’s most important here-providing the next phase of E911 service to our GSM customers,” said AT&T Wireless spokeswoman Rochelle Cohen.
At that time, the FCC said it was proposing to fine AT&T Wireless for missing implementation deadlines in at least 12 markets and for misrepresenting when it would begin selling non-compliant handsets.
While AT&T disputed the charges, it agreed after lengthy negotiations to pay the fine.
The consent decree also sets out the following timeline for Phase II deployment:
- AT&T will deploy Phase II compliant technology at a minimum of 1,000 cell sites on its GSM network by Jan. 31;
- 2,000 cell sites by March 31;
- 4,000 cell sites by June 30;
- 6,000 cell sites by Dec. 31, 2003;
- 8,000 cell sites by June 30, 2004;
- For public-safety answering points that filed valid requests for Phase II services by Sept. 30, 2002, AT&T will provide Phase II services to 100 percent of the PSAP’s coverage area by Nov. 30, 2002;
- For PSAPs that filed valid requests after Sept. 30 but before April 30, 2003, AT&T Wireless will provide Phase II services to 50 percent by Nov. 30, 2003 and 100 percent by June 30, 2004.
