Media Contact: 
Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509
will.wiquist@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

FCC ACTING CHAIRWOMAN ANNOUNCES INQUIRY INTO WIRELESS PROVIDERS’ COMPLIANCE WITH 911 LOCATION ACCURACY RULES

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2021—Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel today announced that the Federal Communication Commission’s Enforcement Bureau is conducting an inquiry into several wireless providers’ compliance with FCC rules that require them to start delivering 911 callers’ vertical location information by April 3, 2021. Vertical location information can help first responders save lives by finding 911 wireless callers quickly and accurately, even in multi-story buildings.

“Today we are taking action to ensure that wireless providers deliver on their public safety obligations,” said Rosenworcel.  “The FCC adopted comprehensive rules to improve location information for 911 wireless calls back in 2015.  But there has been too little progress since then, and I have consistently called on this agency to do more to ensure that our rules are delivering actionable information.  It’s time for the FCC, public safety, and wireless carriers to work together to ensure that life-saving 911 location information is being delivered to first responders without further delay.”  

The Commission’s rules require nationwide wireless providers to deploy dispatchable location or meet certain vertical location, or z-axis, accuracy requirements by April 3, 2021, and to certify to such deployment by June 2, 2021.  Several wireless carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon) sought an eighteen-month extension of these deadlines, based in part on challenges with testing z-axis solutions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  As part of its inquiry, the Enforcement Bureau will review carriers’ past efforts to come into compliance with the FCC’s deadlines as well as the current capabilities of z-axis solutions.  The Enforcement Bureau can take a range of actions for any violations of FCC rules, as appropriate.

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Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov 

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. Cir. 1974).