STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER JONATHAN S. ADELSTEIN
Re: Implementation of the NET 911 Improvement Act of 2008, WC Docket No. 08-171
With the passage of the “NET 911 Improvement Act of 2008” (NET 911 Act), Congress 
made clear that consumers of interconnected VoIP services deserve access to life saving 911 and 
E911 services and charged this Commission with an active role in transitioning to an IP-enabled 
emergency communications network.  
In this Order we take up the Net 911 Act’s directive that providers of IP-enabled voice 
services comply with 911 and E911 obligations and that these providers have access to the 
capabilities necessary to provide 911 and E911 services.  The Order adopts a reasonable approach 
in its implementation of the Net 911 Act’s requirements.  Consistent with the Act, it sets out 
broad standards for access to E911 capabilities, and makes clear that providers are entitled to 
access capabilities from any entity that owns or controls those capabilities.  I note that a number 
of E911 compliance and policy questions have been raised with respect to dual-mode mobile 
commercial mobile radio service/VoIP handsets that use Wi-Fi technology.  Given the tight 
Congressional deadline for implementing the Act, and wide concern about limiting the 
development of more robust E911 solutions, it is appropriate for the Commission to resolve those 
issues in a separate proceeding.  
Finally, I would like to thank the public safety community, carriers, VoIP providers, and 
all interested stakeholders who have helped us to implement this Act quickly and ensure that 
E911 services remain robust and reliable.  We must remain committed to making E911 a success 
for these increasingly important services and for the consumers who reach for that critical lifeline 
in their time of need.