FCC to consider new location-accuracy rules
FCC commissioners are scheduled to vote Thursday on a new E-911 location-accuracy requirement for emergency calls made from cellular phones, as well to launch a proceeding that would examine location-accuracy requirements for next-generation 911 systems.
Location accuracy for wireless 911 calls has been a point of contention within the public-safety community for years, as public-safety answering point (PSAP) administrators have argued that certain location technologies — for instance, GPS in urban areas that do not provide clear views to satellites and network-based triangulation in rural areas with few cell sites — can provide location data that is of little value to first responders.
However, wireless carriers have been able to meet the FCC requirements, because they are able to use samplings from very wide geographic areas. As part of merger agreements, three nationwide wireless carriers — AT&T, Verizon and Sprint — have agreed to move to county-level 911 location-accuracy requirements. During Thursday’s meeting, the commission is expected to adopt similar location-accuracy rules for all wireless carriers.
“It looks like the industry will finally move forward on tighter accuracy,” said Martin Feuerstein, a member of the FCC’s Communications, Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council’s (CSRIC) Working Group.
In addition, FCC commissioners will consider a further notice of proposed rulemaking and a notice of inquiry that would seek to improve location-accuracy requirements for a variety of technologies, including VoIP. Feuerstein said he is hopeful the proceeding will consider issues such as indoor-accuracy requirements — an issue that could be impacted by the proliferation of femtocells — and the ability to provide a vertical dimension to calls, instead of the traditional horizontal dimensions based solely on latitude and longitude.