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 NEWS  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACTS:  December  11,  2002  Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau  - 
 Lauren  Kravetz  Patrich  (202)  418-  7944  International  Bureau  – 
 Linda  Haller  (202)  418-  1408 
 FEDERAL  COMMUNICATIONS  COMMISSION  SEEKS  COMMENT  ON  THE  SCOPE  OF  ITS  ENHANCED  911  RULES 


 Washington,  D.  C.  --  Today,  the  Federal  Communications  Commission  stated  that  it  intends  to  reevaluate  the  scope  of  communications  services  that  should  provide  access  to  emergency  services  and 
 asked  for  comment  on  whether  its  enhanced  911  (“  E911”)  rules,  or  similar  rules,  should  be  extended  to  cover  certain  additional  voice  services  and  devices. 


 The  Commission  noted  that,  over  the  last  four  decades,  access  to  911  service  has  dramatically  improved  the  ability  of  emergency  personnel  to  respond  quickly  to  people  in  distress.  Efforts  by  the 
 telecommunications  industry,  state  and  local  governments,  and  the  federal  government  have  resulted  in  wireline  911  service  being  available  to  approximately  98  percent  of  the  population.  State  or  local  laws 
 generally  dictate  how  wireline  local  exchange  carriers  provide  911  services.  Certain  terrestrial  wireless  carriers  are  subject  to  the  FCC’s  rules  regarding  both  basic  and  enhanced  911  services. 


 In  a  Further  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking  issued  today,  the  FCC  examined  and  sought  comment  on  the  need  to  extend  compliance  with  its  basic  and  E911  rules,  or  similar  requirements,  to 
 other  mobile  wireless  services,  such  as  telematics,  and  certain  wireline  services,  such  as  Multi-  Line  Telephone  Systems,  including  Private  Branch  Exchanges  and  Centrex  service,  that  are  not  covered  by  the 
 current  rules.  The  Commission  also  sought  comment  on  a  proposal  to  require  mobile  satellite  service  providers  providing  interconnected  voice  service  to  establish  national  call  centers  to  which  all  911 
 emergency  calls  would  be  routed  and  sought  additional  information  on  several  satellite-  specific  enhanced  911  implementation  issues. 


 The  FCC  also  asked  for  comment  on  the  impact  that  excluding  certain  services  and  devices  from  the  911  rules  may  have  on  consumers,  as  well  as  the  technological  and  cost  issues  involved  in  providing 
 E911.  The  FCC  stated  that  it  is  mindful  of  the  need  to  balance  the  expectations  of  consumers  to  have  access  to  911  service  with  the  need  to  continue  to  foster  growth  and  competition  in  the 
 telecommunications  marketplace. 
 Action  by  the  Commission  December  11,  2002,  by  Further  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking  (FCC  02-  326).  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners  Abernathy,  Copps,  and  Martin,  with  Commissioner  Adelstein  not 


 participating. 
 Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau  contacts:  Gregory  W.  Guice  at  202-  418-  0095  or  David  Siehl  at  202-  418-  1313,  TTY  202-  418-  7233. 
 International  Bureau  contact:  Arthur  Lechtman  at  202-  418-  1465. 
 CC  Docket  No.  94-  102  and  IB  Docket  No.  99-  67. 
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