WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission Tuesday said that OnStar Corp.’s ancillary voice calling service is a mobile phone and is subject to the FCC’s wireless enhanced 911 rules. But the commission then waived the rules until 2006.
“We agree with OnStar that the timing of the introduction of its digital units and the technical problems it faces in making its telematics units fully Phase II compliant for its commercial mobile-phone service calling offering raises compliance problems for its underlying carrier partners. Therefore, we conclude in this instance that a waiver of the E911 Phase II equipment activation rules to exempt OnStar analog and first-generation telematics units for a limited period is an appropriate relief,” said the FCC. “We grant wireless carriers a waiver of the commission’s E911 Phase II rules, including the particular equipment activation requirements with regard to the OnStar telematics until Dec. 31, 2005. We also emphasize that the waiver applies only to OnStar telematics units that have the capability to enable OnStar’s optional wireless calling services.”
Last December, OnStar asked the FCC to find its ancillary calling service exempt from the E911 rules especially because its carrier partners were concerned that OnStar units could wreck havoc with their deployment and activation requirements, which have been set out both by rule and consent decree.
E911 service is being deployed in two phases.
Phase I required carriers to supply public-safety answering points with a callback number and cell-site location information. The deadline was April 1, 1998.
Phase II requires more precise location information. It was supposed to be available in some areas by Oct. 1, 2001, but the FCC waived that requirement, giving each nationwide carrier a different implementation schedule with all carriers and all markets deployed by 2006. For Phase II, carriers have two choices with different accuracy requirements. Handset-based solutions must be able to locate the caller within 50 meters 67 percent of the time and within 150 meters 95 percent of the time. Network-based solutions must be able to locate the caller within 100 meters 67 percent of the time and within 300 meters 95 percent of the time.
OnStar was pleased with the decision. “We believe the FCC arrived at a balanced decision regarding this short-term issue. We look forward to working with them on long-term requirements for telematics systems,” said OnStar.
