Wireless RERC - NG911

Wireless RERC Comments on Text-to-911 Deployment

mz22 — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 20:07:38 +0000

Publication Type:

The Wireless RERC submitted reply comments in response to the Federal Communications Commission's Further Notice of Purposed Rulemaking: Facilitating the Deployment of Text-to-911 and Other Next Generation 911 Applications [PS Docket No. 11-153] and Framework for Next Generation 911 Deployment [PS Docket No. 10-255]. The Wireless RERC agreed with assertions that the regulations on the availability of text-to-911 and bounce back error messages should apply to all mobile service providers. For the latter, the Wireless RERC supported the National Emergency Number Association's (NENA) recommendations for standardized language and further suggested that the bounce back message phrasing be vetted by people whose primary language is American Sign Language. Finally, the Wireless RERC maintained that, while education and outreach efforts should be a collaborative effort, the federal government, specifically the FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, should play a primary role by developing a nationwide PSA on text-to-911 and ensuring the accessibility of outreach activities and materials.

Emergency Access Advisory Committee Charter Extended

mz22 — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:21:57 +0000

Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EAAC)

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA)

Emergency Services

NG911

Public Notice

January 11, 2013 — The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau and Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission has extended the Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EAAC) charter by six months until June 14, 2013. Under the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA), the EAAC was chartered to investigate and recommend the “most effective and efficient technologies and methods by which to enable equal access to emergency services by individuals with disabilities.” The EAAC submitted reports to the Commission on December 7, 2011 but have since organized subcommittees to further research and explain their recommendations. This additional work will be included in the EAAC final reports and recommendations, to be submitted to the Commission by June 14, 2013.

Text-to-911 Services Starting in 2013

mz22 — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 17:25:19 +0000

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Text-to-911

public safety answering points (PSAPs)

NG911

Press Release

December 6, 2012—The four largest wireless carriers in the U.S.—AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile—have made the commitment to accelerate the deployment of text-to-911 services, starting with major deployments in 2013 and nationwide access available by May 15, 2014. The announcement was made by Julius Genachowski, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman, who also stated the FCC’s promise to work with all stakeholders and initiate any additional actions to ensure the accessibility of text-to-911 messaging is reached as soon as possible. Once fully implemented, approximately 90% of wireless customers, to include individuals with hearing or speech disabilities, will have the ability to send a text message to 911 to access emergency services and local 911 call centers. By June 13, 2012 the four carriers have also pledged to implement the “bounce back” capability, which will send an automatic text message response to those individuals that attempt to send a text-to-911 message in an area where the service is not yet available. The automatic response will instruct the individual to make a voice call to their emergency services.

The text-to-911 messaging is presented as a complement to voice calls to 911. FCC Chairman Genachowski noted that “access to 911 must catch up with how consumers communicate in the 21^st century” and the commitment to accelerate access to text-to-911 from the nation’s four largest carriers “will save lives starting in 2013.”

Emergency Access Advisory Committee

blippincott4 — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:07:16 +0000

NG911

Text-to-911

Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EEAC)

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA)

Public Notice

August 22, 2012 – The Federal Communications Commission’s Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EEAC) will convene a meeting on September 14, 2012. The EEAC was mandated by the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA) to investigate technologies, procedures and practices that would enable people with disabilities to access forthcoming Next Generation 911 (NG911) emergency services. The EEAC working groups will present on topics such as an interim text-to-911 solution, interoperability, incorporating communication assistance at the emergency call centers, such as American Sign Language interpreters, NG911 timeline, and more. The meeting is open to the public. For more information contact Cheryl King, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau or Patrick Donavon, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (contact information provided below).

Contact Information:

Cheryl King, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 202-418-2284 (voice), 202-418-0416 (TTY), or Cheryl.King@fcc.gov

Patrick Donovan, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, 202-418-2413, Patrick.Donovan@fcc.gov

Emergency Access Advisory Committee

blippincott4 — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:01:23 +0000

Contact Information:

Cheryl King, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 202-418-2284 (voice), 202-418-0416 (TTY), or Cheryl.King@fcc.gov

Patrick Donovan, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, 202-418-2413, Patrick.Donovan@fcc.gov

Start Date:

Friday, September 14, 2012 - 8:30am to 5:00pm

Additional Information:

Public Notice

NG911

Text-to-911

Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EEAC)

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA)

FCC Chief of Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau to Step Down

blippincott4 — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

FCC

EAS

NG911

public safety broadband network

FCC News Release

04.16.12 – The FCC’s Chief of Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Rear Admiral USNR (Retired) James Barnett, will leave his position at the end of April to serve as Senior Vice President at Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. During his time with the FCC, Barnett played a role in many important public safety initiatives such as the establishment of the public safety broadband network; instituting the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, conducted on November 9, 2011; and the adoption of new rules in relation to location accuracy of 9-1-1 calls and Next Generation 9-1-1. According to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, “Thanks to his efforts, out country’s communications networks are stronger and more resilient, and Americans are and will be safer in significant ways.” [Source: FCC]

President Signs NG911 Legislation

bj20 — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:09:32 +0000

NG911

Real-Time Text

H.R 3630 The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012

Testing

02.22.12 – The President has signed into law The Next Generation 9-1-1 Advancement Act of 2012 which was passed as part of The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 [P.L. 112-96]. The Act amends Section 158 of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 942) in order to establish a 9-1-1 Implementation Coordination Office responsible for the coordination of 9-1-1 services, including Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1), Next Generation (NG9-1-1), and Internet Protocol (IP) related emergency services in addition to the facilitation of grant programs for state, local and tribal entities providing these services. The P.L. 112-96 requires that yearly reports be submitted to Congress concerning the efforts taken by the 9-1-1 Implementation Coordination Office to “improve coordination and communication with respect to the implementation of 9-1-1 services, E9-1-1 services, and Next Generation 9-1-1 services.” One year following implementation, the Office of 9-1-1 Implementation Coordination and the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are required to submit a report analyzing multiple factors of NG9-1-1 including cost requirements, potential allocation of funds, the state of service readiness for implementation of NG9-1-1, the needs for people with disabilities, and standards needed for the incorporation of Voiceover IP and Real-Time Text within NG9-1-1. [Source: GovTrack.us]