FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF March 17, 2015THE CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Anna G. Eshoo
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Energy and Commerce Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congresswoman Eshoo:
Thank you for your letter conveying your support for changes to the Commission's rules
governing E9 11 location accuracy. In your letter, you urge the Commission to adopt E9 11 rules
that would establish enforceable metrics and requirements for indoor location and vertical
accuracy, as well as be technology neutral. The Commission has a responsibility to preserve
certain core values even as technology - and consumers' use of that technology - evolves.
Nowhere is that more imperative than in the arena of public safety. Since I arrived at the
Commission, one of our top public safety priorities has been improving the effectiveness of E9 11
and adapting Commission rules to keep pace with the ubiquitous use of wireless services as
consumers' primary method of reaching emergency services, no matter where they are located.
Last February, we adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposed aggressive
but achievable goals for improved location accuracy. Through the hard work of many people at
the Commission, in the public safety community, and in industry, the Commission on January
29, 2015, adopted an Order that significantly improves our E911 location accuracy rules. The
Order establishes transparent and measurable benchmarks for both indoor and vertical location
accuracy to ensure that wireless providers are meeting their commitments and complying with
our requirements.
Underpinning the Order is the clear evidence in the record that there have been
significant advances in wireless network and location technologies that can provide more precise
location accuracy information to locate indoor callers. These advanced technologies provide a
dispatchable location that includes street address, floor, and apartment or room number. The
Order preserves the flexibility that carriers need to take advantage of these various technologies,
while also establishing confidence-building measures, setting rational targets and deadlines for
improving indoor location, and holding parties accountable for results. In particular this Order
establishes achievable benchmarks centered on commitments made by the major nationwide
non-nationwide carriers in concert with efforts by public safety that will close the E91 1 readiness
gap. Together we can and will deliver on the promise of new technology to make Americans
safer.
Page 2-The Honorable Anna G. Eshoo
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further
assistance.
cerYy/
Tom Wheeler