WASHINGTON-The House of Representatives last week passed the E911 Implementation Act of 2003 by voice vote.
“While most state governments tax cell-phone users for upgrades and implementation of enhanced 911 services, that money often has been diverted for other uses. The E911 bill gives states the powerful incentive of federal matching grants to direct funding back into E911 services and technology,” said Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), sponsor of the bill and co-chair of the E911 Congressional Caucus.
The bill creates a carrot-n-stick approach where a grant program is created but states are not eligible if they use 911 funds collected from telecommunications consumers for other purposes.
The E911 caucus is eager to get the E911 bill passed so that grant money can be figured into the fiscal-year 2005 budget. A similar bill is awaiting action by the Senate.
Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), chairman of the House telecommunications subcommittee, had predicted quick passage of the bill last month when he appeared at the FCC’s Enhanced 911 Coordination Initiative. He enthusiastically praised the bill on the House floor.
“We embarrassed some of the states that are using the money for other purposes. Let us get this money spent for the reason it is being collected, for the right cause, so that we will save the lives that all of us want to save,” said Upton.
The bill was brought up under “suspension of the rules,” which prohibits any amendments and requires a two-thirds majority to pass.
“Wireless consumers often cite safety as an important benefit of carrying a wireless phone. Delivering location capability to wireless callers when they dial 911 is a priority for this industry,” said Steve Largent, president of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, in his first statement since assuming his position Nov. 3. “This legislation will enhance statewide coordination and cooperation among the local-phone companies, wireless carriers and public safety. And just as important, it holds state and local governments responsible for directing E911 funds to this vital public-safety technology.”
The National Emergency Number Association said that according to carrier reports filed last month, as of Oct. 1, 18 percent of public-safety answering points are Phase II capable. This is sharply lower than the 93 percent of PSAPs that have wireline E911 capabilities, but is much higher than the 2 percent of Phase II-capable PSAPs at the end of 2002 and 12 percent at the end of June 2003.
PSAPs have to upgrade their networks to enable Phase II services. Recently the Casper Star-Tribune reported that Sweetwater County, Wyo., will pay Qwest Communications International Inc. approximately $34,000 for Phase I and $59,000 for Phase II service.
Similar to Casper, Wyo., Morgan County, Ind., just signed a new contract with SBC Communications Inc. Morgan County residents pay a $1.10 per month 911 tax.
In other 911 action, the FCC has been hearing from both sides in the strongest-signal debate. Carl Hilliard, president of the Wireless Consumers Alliance, met with several FCC staffers last month.
“Now that its non-compliance with the FCC’s requirements has been exposed, the industry is trying to rewrite history by arguing that all that has to happen within 17 seconds is for the handset to have received a voice channel assignment, without regard to whether that voice channel is capable of voice communications,” Hilliard told the FCC. “The industry’s interpretation is completely inconsistent with the spirit and central rationale for adopting the anti-lock-in rule in the first place, which was to combat `lock-in.’ The industry’s revisionist interpretation of the rule would do nothing to prevent `lock-in.”‘
“Suffice it to say that WCA’s preferred interpretation is inconsistent with the language of waivers granted to Nokia Inc. and L.M. Ericsson, inconsistent with the technical capabilities of wireless handsets, and inconsistent with underlying technical standards,” replied Leo Fitzsimon, Nokia director of government & industry analysis.
