*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 27295.doc* 1 Remarks By Commissioner Kevin J. Martin At the FCC’s E911 Coordination Initiative On Collaborative Efforts Between Public Safety, Industry, and Government Washington, D. C. April 29, 2003 Thank you, Dale. As you all just heard, Dale’s Report contains a number of important insights. In my view, one of Dale’s most important conclusions is that E- 9- 1- 1 deployment will require “an unusually high degree of coordination and cooperation” among all stakeholders. I agree strongly with this point. In other words, it’s not enough that the Commission aggressively enforce our E- 9- 1- 1 deadlines. We must continue to do that, but we must also move beyond fines and finger- pointing, to work cooperatively with all the parties. If, for example, a PSAP is unable to process location data sent by a carrier, the carrier’s tracking capabilities become moot. The same is true if the LEC fails to make necessary upgrades. All the stakeholders – PSAPs, equipment manufacturers, wireless carriers, LECs, and State Public Utility Commissions – must coordinate their efforts. In that regard, I am grateful for the tremendous efforts of some groups that are here to speak today, who have focused on bringing parties together to speed deployment. I have personally worked with a number of these groups, and I am thrilled with the work they are doing. The Commission’s goal in convening this forum is not to duplicate these groups’ efforts, but, instead, to build upon them. First, we’ll hear from John Melcher, President of NENA, on NENA’s Strategic Wireless Action Teams. The “SWAT” initiative brings together national leaders from public safety, finance, policy, technology, and the government to establish priorities and benchmarks for 9- 1- 1 systems. Among other things, the SWAT initiative conducts essential outreach and provides support for E911 deployments across the country. 1 2 We’ll then hear from Bill Hinkle, Chairman of APCO’s “Project Locate” and Chairman of APCO’s “Public Safety Foundation of America.” APCO’s Project Locate helps PSAPs file requests for Phase II service. It also works to promotes communication between PSAPs and wireless carriers. And, by gathering and sharing information with PSAPs, it helps spot recurring issues that require national attention. APCO’s Public Safety Foundation of America receives and distributes grant money for public safety agencies. The foundation makes awards for large scale projects designed to encourage statewide implementations, and funds projects for individual PSAPs. We’ll then hear from Susan Miller, President and CEO of the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions or “ATIS” on ATIS’s Emergency Services Interconnection Forum or “ESIF.” ESIF serves as a venue for the telecommunications industry, public safety, and other stakeholders to resolve technical issues related to the interconnection of the telephony and emergency services networks. Finally, we’ll hear from Evelyn Bailey, Chair of the Steering Committee of the U. S. Department of Transportation’s Wireless E911 Initiative. This initiative brings national leadership to the E911 issue, providing technical assistance, guidance and training. It also engages the Nation’s leading information technology experts in examining the technological approach to E911. I want to personally thank each of these groups for all that they are doing and thank each of the speakers for being here today. And now, I’d like to welcome John Melcher on NENA’s “SWAT” initiative. 2