STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER DEBORAH TAYLOR TATE Re: Revision of the Commission’s Rules to Ensure Compatibility with Enhanced 911 Emergency Calling Systems; CC Docket No. 94-102; Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International, Inc. Request for Declaratory Ruling; Wireless E911 Location Accuracy Requirements; PS Docket No. 07-114; E911 Requirements for IP-Enabled Providers; WC Docket No. 05-196 One of the core purposes of the Commission is “promoting safety of life and property through the use of wire and radio communication.” Throughout the Commission’s history this Commission has acted to fulfill that purpose, but perhaps one of its most successful and important actions was to adopt in 1996 rules requiring the Commercial Mobile Radio Service industry to implement basic 911 and E911 services. Hundreds of thousands of Americans dial “911” on their mobile phones each day, and the location information that is sent along with the vast majority of these calls is critical to ensuring a timely arrival by first responders. It’s been proven again and again that the combination of a wireless phone and “911” saves lives. This item is an important step towards improving and modernizing that system. In light of the amazing technological progress we witness each year, it makes perfect sense to ask questions like whether the location accuracy rules we last updated in 1999 should be revised, whether we are measuring accuracy in the most appropriate manner, and whether other new communications services like interconnected VoIP also should be required to send more accurate location information. I am pleased that this item will help us to answer those questions and allow us to ensure that our communications infrastructure even better helps to protect each and every American citizen.