*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 12161.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418 TTY 202 / 418-Internet: http:// www. fc ftp fc FCC 01- 302 October 12, 2001 COMMISSION ESTABLISHES SCHEDULE FOR E911 PHASE II REQUESTS BY SMALL AND MID- SIZED WIRELESS CARRIERS CC Docket No. 94- 102 By this Public Notice, the Commission establishes a deadline of November 30, 2001 for small and mid- sized wireless carriers subject to the Commission's wireless Enhanced 911 (E911) Phase II for the filing of any requests for relief from the rules’ if necessary. Under the filing schedule, the Commission will allow carriers who have not filed Phase II waiver requests and need to do so until November 30, 2001. The Commission will not initiate enforcement action under the E911 Phase II rules against small and mid- sized carriers (i. e., carriers other than the six major national wireless carriers) during the extended filing and evaluation period. Under the deadlines set forth in section 20. 18( f) and (g) of the Commission’s rules, Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) providers are scheduled to begin implementing E911 Phase II as of October 1, 2001, where certain conditions are met by local public safety authorities. Over the past several months, the Commission has received numerous waiver requests from CMRS providers seeking additional time to comply with the Commission’s E911 Phase II rules. On October 2, 2001, we adopted orders approving, in part, detailed compliance plans for five of the six nationwide CMRS carriers. 1 These plans provide each nationwide carrier limited additional time to implement these plans. A substantial number of small and mid- sized wireless carriers have also filed Phase II waiver requests, but many other such carriers have not. These carriers may face similar circumstances in deploying Phase II capability. Allowing additional time for these carriers to prepare and file waiver requests, if necessary, and for the Commission to consider them, should assist small and mid- sized carriers in developing effective Phase II deployment plans and provide a better record for the Commission to address Phase II deployment issues. The filing schedule announced in this Public Notice is intended to clarify the waiver filing obligations of the carriers who have not filed to date and grant them limited additional time within which to file, if necessary. As further assistance to these carriers, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau will, within the next few days, issue a further Public Notice giving more detailed guidance regarding the form and content of these filings, including outlining methods by which carriers may make joint filings. 1 The sixth nationwide carrier, VoiceStream, was granted a limited waiver in September 2000. Revision of the Commission’s Rules to Ensure Compatibility with Enhanced 911 Emergency Calling Systems, CC Docket No. 94- 102, Fourth Memorandum Opinion and Order, released September 8, 2001, petition for reconsideration pending. 1 2 Action by the Commission, October 4, 2001 (FCC 01- 302), Chairman Powell, Commissioners Abernathy, Copps, and Martin. For further information concerning this proceeding, contact Dan Grosh, Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418- 1310. - FCC - 2