Regulatory

March 2013 — The Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EAAC) released a report entitled EAAC Working Group 3 Recommendations on Current 9-1-1 and Next-Generation 9-1-1: Media Communication Line Services Used to Ensure Effective Communication with Callers with Disabilities. The document discusses EAAC recommendations to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), U.S Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S.

February 2013— The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Report to Congress in entitled Legal and Regulatory Framework for Next Generation 911 Services, in which the Wireless RERC was cited and referenced throughout the document. In preparation of the report, the FCC issued a Public Notice that sought public comments on the issues related to the legal and regulatory infrastructure needed for the transition from legacy 911 to Next Generation 911 (NG911).

February 27, 2013— The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) submitted a Report to Congress pursuant to Section 6509 of the Next Generation 9-1-1 Advancement Act of 2012 (NG911 Act) entitled: Legal and Regulatory Framework for Next Generation 911 Services. The report, developed by FCC staff in the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, provides recommendations to build the necessary legal and regulatory infrastructure to support states, public safety answering points (PSAPs) and service providers, as they transition from legacy 911 to NG911.

February 25, 2013 — The Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an Order [PS Docket No. 07-287] that officially changes the name of the system used to transmit emergency alerts to the public from “Commercial Mobile Alert System” (CMAS) to “Wireless Emergency Alerts” (WEA). Under the Warning Alert and Response Network Act (WARN Act), the FCC adopted the essential technical requirements to enable commercial mobile service providers to transmit emergency alerts.

February 13, 2013 — The next Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Open Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 20, 2013. The agenda items include: consideration of a Report and Order that would adopt new technical and operational requirements for signal boosters to enhance wireless coverage for consumers; and a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would increase the amount of unlicensed spectrum available, resulting in the expansion of Wi-Fi technology to provide consumers with faster Internet speeds and less congestion.