Verizon Wireless submitted waiver request to FCC for implementing...

request Oct. 10 for immediately available PAS capability that could be operational in Washington by Dec. 10. After that, immediate PAS would be implemented in N.Y. and Salt Lake City, “with other markets possibly to follow,” Verizon said. Company outlined technical solution called emergency services capability for those 3 markets. Under that system, Verizon Wireless said that within one hour of being notified by NCS of emergency, it would convert one carrier in each cell site from nonemergency to emergency use only, “thereby increasing the chances that national security emergency personnel users with programmed handsets” could access radio channel. Waiver request said: “The remaining network capacity will continue to serve subscribers and roamers.” Verizon Wireless also plans to test alternative technical solution, called Access Channel Persistence, for potential deployment in Nortel equipment markets. Under that 2nd system, one carrier wouldn’t be earmarked just for emergency use. Instead, 2 classes of network users would be created during emergencies -- priority and nonpriority. Upon activation, access message from priority users would be sent “with less delay than the access messages from nonpriority uses, thus increasing the chances that calls from priority users would be successfully originated.” Neither solution meets requirements of guidelines FCC issued last year for wireless PAS, carrier said, because technology that would allow service deployment in line with order wasn’t available yet. As examples, carrier said short-term PAS solutions wouldn’t be able to recognize and differentiate among users that had different priority levels. Short-term system also wouldn’t be available at all times by dialing feature code and wouldn’t place unsuccessful calls in line for next available channel. Waiver, if granted, would take effect immediately and would remain in place as long as Verizon Wireless provided immediate service PAS to NCS. Verizon also asked that waiver be provided under any technical solution covered under NCS contract. “Verizon Wireless will test 2 different technical solutions and may implement different solutions in different markets depending on the equipment type deployed in each market,” carrier said. Verizon contended granting waiver would in public interest. “In the wake of the events of September 11, the government has repeatedly stated that one tool it needs to address future emergency situations is a wireless priority access capability.” Verizon urged FCC to act quickly on request. “The urgency of this situation also warrants a decision by the Commission not to place this request for waiver on public notice and solicit public comment,” company said. Carrier included statement of support from NCS on waiver petition. NCS Deputy Mgr. Brent Greene said, “The priority access service to be provided, although not fully compliant with Commission rules, is vitally essential to the security of this nation. The United States was attacked on September 11, 2001. Some telecommunications assets were damaged. Undamaged assets were strained to and well beyond their limits.” Greene said wireless networks in N.Y. and Washington were strained and “essential” national security and emergency personnel calls couldn’t be made.