FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON 
OFFICE OF 
THE CHAIRMAN 
The Honorable Kevin Yoder 
U.S. House of Representatives 
215 Cannon House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Yoder: 
April 9, 2015 
Thank you for your letter conveying your plans to reintroduce legislation known as the 
Kelsey Smith Act and the information sent to the Commission by Kansas State Senator Greg 
Smith and Specialist James Patton, Army National Guard. I share your concern about locating 
victims in the event of an emergency. 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 ofE91 land adapting 
Commission rules to keep pace with the ubiquitous use of wireless services as consumers' 
primary method ofreaching emergency services, no matter where they are located. 
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 E9 l l location accuracy rules. The Order establishes transparent and 
measurable benchmarks 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 by providing 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 and non­
nationwide carriers in concert with efforts by public safety that will close the E9 l l readiness 
gap. Together we can and will deliver on the promise of new technology to make Americans 
safer. 
Page 2-The Honorable Kevin Yoder 
I appreciate your interest in this matter. I look forward to working with you and your 
staff to provide any technical assistance you may request on your proposed legislation. Please let 
me know if I can be of any further assistance.