FEDERAL C O MMUNIC ATION S C O MMI SSION WA S HING TON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Anna Eshoo U.S. House of Representatives 241 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515; Dear Congresswoman Eshoo: February 28, 2014 Thank you for your letter regarding location accuracy requirements for E911 calls placed from wireless devices - particularly calls made from indoor locations. As you point out, Americans are increasingly relying on their wireless phones, and rightfully expect that their emergency calls will bring the help that they need. When the original E911 rules for wireless providers were first adopted, they were built on the assumption that the primary place consumers would use their wireless phones would be outside. But today, the vast majority of wireless calls are made from indoors, including 911 calls made from wireless phones. In our ongoing rulemaking proceeding on E911 location accuracy, we have been exploring ways to ensure that the Commission's rules keep pace with technology and wireless 911 calling trends, including the increase in wireless calls from indoor locations. Last week at the FCC' s February 20 agenda meeting, the Commission unanimously adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in this proceeding. The Further Notice will seek comment on a proposal that wireless providers meet certain benchmarks for indoor location accuracy and proposes other changes to ensure that wireless providers are taking the appropriate steps to deliver accurate location information to 911 call centers. I appreciate your interest in this matter. We wi II include your letter in the record of this proceeding for full Commission consideration. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, --:;;;;-4 Tom Wheeler FEDER A L C O MMUNIC ATI O N S C O MMISSIO N WAS HING T O N OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable John Shimkus U.S. House of Representatives 2452 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Shimkus: February 28,2014 Thank you for your letter regarding location accuracy requirements for E911 calls placed from wireless devices - particularly calls made from indoor locations. As you point out, Americans are increasingly relying on their wireless phones, and rightfully expect that their emergency calls will bring the help that they need. When the original E911 rules for wireless providers were first adopted, they were built on the assumption that the primary place consumers would use their wireless phones would be outside. But today, the vast majority of wireless calls are made from indoors, including 911 calls made from wireless phones. In our ongoing rulemaking proceeding on E911 location accuracy, we have been exploring ways to ensure that the Commission's rules keep pace with technology and wireless 911 calling trends, including the increase in wireless calls from indoor locations. Last week at the FCC's February 20 agenda meeting, the Commission unanimously adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rule making in this proceeding. The Further Notice will seek comment on a proposal that wireless providers meet certain benchmarks for indoor location accuracy and proposes other changes to ensure that wireless providers are taking the appropriate steps to deliver accurate location information to 911 call centers. I appreciate your interest in this matter. We will include your letter in the record of this proceeding for full Commission consideration. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, --:;;;;#(/ Tom Wheeler