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 NEWS  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  TTY  202  /  418-  2555  Fax-  On-  Demand  202  /  418-  2830  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  ftp.  fcc.  gov  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). 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE:  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT:  March  5,  2003  Robin  Pence  at  202-  418-  0505 
 FCC  TO  LAUNCH  E911  COORDINATION  INITIATIVE 
 First  Meeting  to  Occur  at  Commission  on  April  29 
 Washington,  D.  C.  --  FCC  Chairman  Michael  K.  Powell  has  announced  that  the  Commission  will  launch  an  Enhanced  911  (E911)  Coordination  Initiative,  bringing  together  relevant  stakeholders 


 to  share  experiences  and  devise  strategies  for  expediting  E911  deployment.  The  Initiative  will  officially  commence  with  a  meeting  held  at  the  Commission  on  April  29,  2003. 


 As  described  by  Commissioners  Adelstein  and  Abernathy  this  morning  during  their  testimony  before  the  Communications  Subcommittee  of  the  Senate  Committee  on  Commerce, 
 Science  and  Transportation,  the  meeting  will  follow  up  on  the  findings  and  recommendations  contained  in  the  Hatfield  Report.  Dale  Hatfield  is  an  independent  expert  and  Adjunct  Professor 
 in  the  Department  of  Interdisciplinary  Telecommunications  at  the  University  of  Colorado  at  Boulder  commissioned  by  the  FCC  to  examine  technical  and  operational  issues  affecting  E911 
 deployment. 
 “Wireless  E911  deployment  is  an  urgent  priority  deserving  of  the  ever-  increasing  attention  of  the  Commission  and  Congress,”  said  Chairman  Powell.  “My  fellow  Commissioners 
 and  I  look  forward  to  playing  a  constructive  role  in  facilitating  communication  between  and  among  the  various  parties  tasked  with  making  E911  deployment  a  reality.  It  is  our  responsibility 
 to  ensure  that  all  wireless  consumers  have  access  to  this  lifesaving  technology  –  and  the  E911  Initiative  we  announce  today  is  another  step  in  that  direction." 


 In  addition,  the  meeting  will  address  ongoing  implementation  issues  such  as  Public  Safety  Answering  Point  (PSAP)  funding,  wireless  carrier  implementation  and  prioritization, 
 issues  relating  to  Local  Exchange  Carriers  (LECs),  and  challenges  faced  by  rural  carriers.  Mr.  Hatfield  plans  to  participate  in  this  meeting,  which  will  also  include  representatives  from  the 
 public  safety  community,  wireless  carriers,  and  other  interested  stakeholders.  This  meeting  will  be  the  first  in  a  series  of  coordination  efforts  to  allow  the  Commission  to  facilitate  E911 
 deployment. 


 -  FCC  - 
 Bureau  Contact:  Lauren  Kravetz  Patrich,  Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau  (202-  418-  7944,  lkravetz@  fcc.  gov). 
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