BellSouth (BS) told FCC it concluded that certain costs involving...
BellSouth (BS) told FCC it concluded that certain costs involving network upgrades to let wireless carriers deliver latitude and longitude of E911 caller’s location should be recovered from mobile operators. BS defended its allocation of upgrade costs among wireless…
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carriers, operators of mobile position centers and public safety answering points (PSAPs) to allow E911 Phase 2 service as being in line with “Commission precedent.” BellSouth said in recent ex parte meeting at FCC it also covered whether there were legal barriers to it providing PSAPs with information beyond anything required under Phase 2 rules. CTIA also touched on LEC readiness issue in Sept. 12 letter to FCC in which it endorsed Verizon Wireless plan. That proposal would have FCC stipulate that carrier wouldn’t be in violation of Phase 2 deadline when PSAP couldn’t yet receive and use more detailed location information because PSAP itself or LEC hadn’t completed necessary network upgrades. Under existing FCC rules, PSAP request for Phase 2 service is “valid” if PSAP can show it has ordered necessary equipment and has vendor commitments to have it installed and operational within 6 months. CTIA Gen. Counsel Michael Altschul told FCC that often PSAP request wouldn’t lead to Phase 2 readiness within 6 months because: (1) PSAPs are required to receive commitments for suppliers only that gear will be operational within 6 months, but that often doesn’t preclude vendor from failing to deliver necessary equipment. (2) LECs often are unable or unwilling to provide necessary facilities or upgrades of automatic location information databases in 6 months after PSAP request for Phase 2 service. Altschul said some LECS had refused to make certain services available without tariff but “often make no effort to file such tariffs in an expeditious manner, placing CMRS carriers in a ‘Catch- 22’ situation where it is impossible to test Phase 2 equipment or provide Phase 2 information to PSAPs at the end of the 6-month deadline.”