FCC asked for comments in Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking o...

call back emergency caller, even though those phones didn’t have dialable number. In some cases, such phones were used to provide service by carrier but have been reissued under donor programs such as domestic violence protection. In other cases, handsets are newly manufactured 911-only phones that can’t receive incoming calls. Public safety entities had asked FCC to take another look at callback issue because noninitialized phones didn’t have dialable callback number for emergency response or in some cases didn’t provide accurate location information. In further notice, Commission seeks comments on possible technical solutions to callback issue. It tentatively concluded that all carrier-donated handsets should be labeled and initialized on limited basis so PSAP could return emergency call. It also proposed that said all newly manufactured 911-only handsets be labeled and provide for PSAP return calls. Wireless carriers have argued that no viable technical solution has been identified for allowing PSAPs to return calls, and developing one could divert resources from implementing Enhanced 911 mandates. But public safety entities have disagreed, saying solution exists or could easily be devised. Comments are due July 9, replies Aug. 8. Notice also seeks comments on how often such calls occur and whether variation could be used of temporary local directory numbers, which are used now for roaming calls.