911 Likely Focus of September FCC Meeting
The FCC is expected to take up an order on wireless 911 location accuracy at the Sept. 23 meeting, as well as notice of inquiry on 911 VoIP issues, agency and industry officials said Wednesday. A few other orders also may get a vote, including finalizing rules for the TV white spaces and an E-rate item. Odds appear slim at this point the commission will attempt to vote at next month’s meeting on a declaratory order reclassifying broadband transmission as a Title II service.
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Orders would have to be ready to circulate Sept. 2 to get a vote at the Sept. 23 meeting. “That’s the big question of the week: They have eight days now, what are they going to do” on reclassification, said a commission official. “I think it’s a complete unknown right now.” A second FCC official said: “I don’t think there’s time. I think it was always doubtful.”
An industry source said the Nov. 4 meeting looks like a more promising date for a reclassification vote, especially since talks are still ongoing at the Information Technology Industry Council and since reclassification reply comments just came in. “What’s notable is what’s missing -- we don’t think reclassification is on for September,” the person said.
The location accuracy order is likely to circulate next week for the meeting, agency and industry officials said. APCO and NENA have longstanding agreements with the major wireless carriers on location accuracy rules for both GSM and CDMA carriers. An NPRM asks questions about in-door location accuracy rules. An accompanying notice of inquiry asks about VoIP-related issues.
"It is supposed to be on the agenda,” said a public safety official. “The further notice is going to ask questions about accuracy in a VoIP world and whether it can be improved."
The E-Rate order, which also appears likely to be voted on, follows up on a rulemaking notice the FCC released in May proposing updates to the program, consistent with the National Broadband Plan. The item offers proposals aimed at streamlining the application process, providing more flexibility in choosing cost-effective broadband services and expanding the reach of broadband to classrooms.
Also possible is a vote on an order finalizing rules for the use of the TV white spaces. The big question mark is whether it will be ready next week, since it addresses some complicated issues, FCC officials said Wednesday. Not now teed up for a vote next month is an order moving forward on the National Broadband Plan’s goal of reallocating 120 MHz of TV spectrum to wireless broadband, agency officials said. There was talk in recent weeks that Chairman Julius Genachowski wanted a vote on the item, an official said.