The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeks
comment on a proposed rule relating to the timing and different aspects of
implementing text-to-911. Given the FCC’s core
mission of “promoting the
safety of life and property of the American public through the use of wire and
radio communications,” it has a vested interest in ensuring that the
technologies with which Americans are most comfortable are the ones available
to them in emergencies.
While
subscribers’ monthly voice usage between 2009 and 2011 decreased, U.S. mobile
data traffic between 2010 and 2011 increased by 270 percent. Moreover, 81 percent of adult American cell
phone owners use texting, and 63 percent of teens text daily. All of these statistics reflect a “continued
evolution from a predominantly voice-driven medium of communication to one
based more on data transmissions.”
Thus, according to the FCC, as the use of texting applications increases,
the 911 system must evolve to accommodate the use of this technology. Text-to-911 will “vastly enhance the
[911] system's accessibility for over 40 million Americans with hearing or
speech disabilities” and will “provide a vital and lifesaving alternative to the
public in situations where 911 voice service is unavailable or placing a voice
call could endanger the caller.”
Furthermore, implementing text-to-911 will aid in the transition of the
current 911 system to a Next Generation 911 system. The NG911 system is expected to enable Public
Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) to receive not only texts but also photos,
videos, and data.
In its proposed rule, the FCC first invites comment on its deadline
of December 31, 2014, by which all text providers must provide text-to-911
capability. AT&T, Sprint Nextel,
T-Mobile, and Verizon – the four largest wireless carriers – have committed to
making text-to-911 available by May 15, 2014 (Carrier-NENA-APCO Agreement). They initially intend to use SMS-based
text. The FCC is looking into
text-to-911 for other IP-based text applications as well.
Second,
the FCC seeks further comment on the following issues, as discussed in the proposed rule:
- Developing the capability to provide Phase II-comparable location information in conjunction with emergency texts;
- Delivering text-to-911 over non-cellular data channels; and
- Supporting text-to-911 for consumers while roaming on Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) networks;
Comments were due on April 4, 2014, but interested
parties are invited to submit reply comments by May 5, 2014, by any of the
following methods:
- Federal Communications Commission's Web site: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/
- Mail: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554
All comments must include PS Docket No. 10-255, and PS Docket No. 11-153.
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