NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th 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 CONTACT: April 11, 2008 Robert Kenny 202-418-2668 Email: robert.kenny@fcc.gov FCC NOTICE SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON FRAUDULENT 911 CALLS MADE FROM NON-SERVICE INITIALIZED WIRELESS PHONES Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted a Petition for a Notice of Inquiry filed by the public safety community regarding the number of fraudulent 911 calls made from wireless non-service initialized (NSI) phones. The petitioners state that these calls often are taking valuable resources and time away from individuals and families who truly are in need of emergency assistance when they dial 911. NSI phones are cell phones without service contracts that have no associated name and address, and do not provide Automatic Number Identification (ANI) and call back features used by Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) to respond to 911 calls. According to petitioners, in 2006, PSAPs in Tennessee reported more than 10,000 fraudulent 911 calls from NSI phones in just a three-month span of time. In Florida, several PSAPs reported approximately 8,400 fraudulent 911 calls from NSI phones in just one month (December 2006), constituting more than 96 percent of the 911 calls received by those PSAPs from NSI phones. Currently the Commission’s rules require wireless carriers to transmit all wireless 911 calls, including those made from NSI phones, to 911 call centers or PSAPs. In 2002, because of the limitations of these cell phones, the FCC clarified that its rules do not prevent wireless carriers from blocking fraudulent 911 calls from NSI phones. Actions taken by carriers to block such calls must be done in adherence with applicable state and local law enforcement procedures. However, according to the petitioners, blocking such calls has raised technical and legal concerns by wireless carriers and the public safety community. The FCC notice calls for public comments, analysis and information on the nature and the extent of the problem for PSAPs across the nation in responding to fraudulent calls; carriers’ legal and technical concerns with blocking 911 calls from wireless NSI phones and potential ways to make this a more viable option; as well as other possible solutions to address this issue. -more- The petition was filed by the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board, the National Association of State 9-1-1 Administrators, the Michigan State 9-1-1 Office, the New Jersey State 9-1-1 Commission, the Snohomish County Enhanced 9-1-1 Office, the National Emergency Number Association, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International, the State of Montana 911 Program, the Washington Sate E911 Program, and Openwave Systems, Inc. Action by the Commission, April 7, 2008, by Notice of Inquiry (FCC 08-95). Chairman Martin, and Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate and McDowell. Separate Statements issued by Chairman Martin and Commissioner Tate. PS Docket No. 08-51. Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau contact is Jeff Cohen at (202) 418-0799. -FCC- News and other information about the Federal Communications Commission is available at www.fcc.gov.