Federal Communications Commission DA 26-407 DA 26-407 Released: April 24, 2026 PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON VERIZON PETITION FOR WAIVER OF NEXT GENERATION 911 (NG911) PHASE 1 DEADLINES PS Docket Nos. 21-479, 25-143 Comments Due: May 4, 2026 Reply Comments Due: May 11, 2026 The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment on a Petition for Waiver filed by Verizon on April 17, 2026. Verizon, Petition for Waiver, PS Docket No. 21-479 (filed April 17, 2026), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/10417519901088 (Verizon Petition). Verizon requests to extend the deadlines for complying with Next Generation 911 (NG911) Phase 1 requirements in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and additional jurisdictions. Certain originating service providers, including non-rural wireline providers and nationwide Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) providers, are required to comply with NG911 Phase 1 implementation requirements within six months after receiving a valid request from a 911 Authority. 47 CFR § 9.30(a)(1); see also 47 CFR § 9.29(a). Alternatively, originating service providers and 911 Authorities may establish different terms by mutual consent. 47 CFR § 9.34. Specifically, Verizon seeks an extension of deadlines for it to implement Phase 1 for its wireline services as follows: · Through June 30, 2026, for Verizon’s wireline services in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts See Massachusetts State 911 Department, 911 Authority Next Generation 911 (NG911) Valid Request Form, PS Docket No. 25-143 (rec. April 4, 2025), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/10404491711173 (Massachusetts Phase 1 Request). and in other jurisdictions that filed Phase 1 requests prior to November 1, 2025. Verizon Petition at 9-10. The Commission’s NG911 valid request registry posted 95 filings prior to November 1, 2025. Several requests that posted during this period subsequently were amended or withdrawn. Accordingly, Bureau staff estimates that 72 Phase 1 valid requests were posted during this period, including Massachusetts. Interested parties may retrieve requests at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings by using search terms Proceedings: 25-143, Date Posted Range: 03/25/2025 - 10/31/2025. We note that other 911 Authorities may have provided written notice of valid Phase 1 requests directly to relevant originating service providers under 47 CFR § 9.31(a)(5). · Through July 31, 2026 for Verizon’s wireline services in jurisdictions that filed Phase 1 requests between November 1, 2025 and January 31, 2026. Verizon Petition at 10. The Commission’s NG911 valid request registry posted 81 filings between November 1, 2025 and January 31, 2026. As with the earlier period, several requests subsequently were amended or withdrawn. Additionally, two requests for Phase 2 service posted to the registry during this period, which we do not consider as covered by Verizon’s waiver request. Accordingly, Bureau staff estimates that 58 Phase 1 valid requests were posted during this period. Interested parties may retrieve requests at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings by using search terms Proceedings: 25-143, Date Posted Range: 11/01/2025 - 01/31/2026. In addition, Verizon requests a retroactive waiver through March 31, 2026 of the Phase 1 deadline for its wireless services in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Id. at 9. Verizon states that it has collaborated with the State 911 Department in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and “after resolving unforeseen technical issues” was Phase 1 compliant for wireless service by March 31, 2026. Id. at 2. Verizon states that its wireline Phase 1 implementation was largely complete in Massachusetts and other jurisdictions late in the first quarter of 2026, but that additional time through mid-2026 will facilitate more seamless support for certain multi-line telephone system (MLTS) users’ caller location functions. Id. at 5-7. Verizon asserts that a waiver is warranted because “the complications of IP connectivity described [in the Petition] are precisely the extraordinary or special circumstances warranting the limited extension requested.” Id. at 12. Alternatively, if the Petition is not granted, Verizon requests that the Commission “waive or forbear from enforcing relevant Part 9 requirements for affected MLTS managers and operators” through the time frames requested in the Petition. Id. at 9; see also 47 CFR part 9, subpart F. Filing Requirements. Interested parties may file comments on or before the dates shown on the first page of this document. See 47 CFR §§ 1.1, 1.3, 1.45. All comments must reference PS Docket No. 21-479 and should be filed only in that docket. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, GC Docket No. 97-113, Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 11322 (1998). · Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings. · Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. o Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by U.S. Postal Service. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. o Hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary are accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. by the FCC’s mailing contractor at 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building. o Commercial courier deliveries (any deliveries not by the U.S. Postal Service) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. o Filings sent by U.S. Postal Service First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express may be addressed to 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554. Ex Parte Rules. The proceeding this Public Notice initiates shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. 47 CFR § 1.1200 et seq. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter’s written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with section 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by section 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. People with Disabilities. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530. Additional Information. For additional information on this proceeding, contact Brenda Boykin, Policy and Licensing Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at 202-418-2062, or Brenda.Boykin@fcc.gov. -FCC- 2