WASHINGON-The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International today criticized a key report’s finding that federal regulators relax a government mandate governing one form of mobile-phone location-based 911 service.
APCO said it finds objectionable a recommendation in the report-issued by the National Emergency Number Association and Strategic Wireless Action Team-calling for the Federal Communications Commission to liberalize a rule that requires wireless carriers using handset-based enhanced 911 technology for Phase II compliance to meet a 95 percent penetration threshold by the end of 2005.
“Upon further review of the NENA SWAT report, APCO International strongly disagrees with this recommendation,” the public safety group said. “APCO believes that the public safety answering point’s ability to locate callers using handsets is directly proportionate to the degree to which old handsets are replaced by new models with location capabilities.
Furthermore, it is the position of APCO that all carriers should be held accountable to meet the current handset penetration requirements and that the FCC should hold firm to these mandates.”
APCO previously indicated it disagreed with the NENA SWAT report’s recommendations regarding wireless carrier cost recovery, adding it was not prepared to endorse any specific coordination model at this time.
“Why wouldn’t we hold the carriers accountable for making their handset penetration requirements,” said Wanda McCarley, second vice president of APCO. “Failure to do so would be an injustice not only to the public and the PSAPs, but also to those carriers who are currently meeting these requirements.”
