FCC announces Members and Co-Chairpersons for Emergency Access Advisory Committee
On December 7th, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) released the names of members who will represent and co-chair the Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EAAC). The Committee, established under the Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, was set up in order to determine the most effective and efficient technologies and methods in order to implement access to Next Generation 911 (NG911) emergency services for disabled Americans.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has designated Richard Ray and David J. Dzumba as Co-Chairpersons of the EAAC. Additional Information on the EAAC and its members can be found here and here.
FCC takes steps to open Television Spectrum for Wireless Broadband
On November 30th, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking public comment on the first steps to repurpose some of the UHF and VHF bands currently used by broadcast TV service. The bands would be made available for use by fixed and mobile wireless services - including mobile broadband - in future spectrum auctions.
The NPRM sought comments on three specific issues, including (1) the establishment of new allocations for fixed and mobile wireless services that would be co-primary with U/V bands currently used by TV broadcasters, (2) allowing TV stations to voluntarily combine operations and share a single 6 MHz channel which would enable a more efficient use of the spectrum, and (3) determining what steps the FCC may take to increase the utility of the VHF Television bands, (specifically channels 2-13) in order to increase the utility of these bands for the improved operation of TV services.
FCC Revises 700 MHz Rules to Advance Interoperable Public Safety
Communications and Promote Wireless Broadband Deployment.
In a Second Report & Order (Order), the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) revised the 700 MHz band plan and service rules
to promote the creation of a nationwide interoperable broadband network for
public safety and to facilitate the availability of new and innovative wireless
broadband services for consumers.
FCC Adopts Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Seeking Comment on Enhanced 911 Location Accuracy and Reliability Requirements
for Wireless Carriers and Interconnected VOIP Providers.
The Federal Communications Commission has adopted a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on tentative conclusions and issues related to
Enhanced 911 (E911) location accuracy and reliability requirements for wireless
carriers and providers of interconnected voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
services. The NPRM seeks to ensure that E911 service meets the needs of public
safety and the American people. The NPRM also takes into consideration the
evolution in the use of wireless devices and the further development of location
technologies.
In Section III.A of the NPRM the Commission tentatively concluded that, as proposed by the Association of
Public Safety Communications Officials-International, Inc. (APCO), wireless
carriers would be required to meet Phase II location accuracy and reliability
standards under Section 20.18(h) at the service area level of PSAPs.
In Section III.B the Commission seeks comment on a number of other tentative
conclusions and proposals, including: (1) if FCC were to require licensees to
meet the standards of Section 20.18(h) at the PSAP level, and decide to defer
enforcement of Section 20.18(h) as so defined, how long we should defer
enforcement; (2) the tentative conclusion to establish a single location
accuracy requirement irrespective of technology; (3) how advances in location
technologies and the use of hybrid technologies that employ both handset- and
network-based technologies should impact our analysis; (4) whether a more
stringent accuracy requirement should be adopted; (5) how and by what date to
require compliance with a uniform and/or new accuracy requirement; (6) the
methodology for accuracy compliance testing, particularly when wireless phones
are used indoors and in rural areas; (7) the tentative conclusions to establish
a mandatory schedule for accuracy testing and to require carriers to
automatically provide accuracy data to PSAPs; (8) whether to require carriers to
provide E911 location information when a wireless phone roams to an area that
uses a different location technology or in which there are no automatic roaming
agreements between carriers; and (9) the tentative conclusion that to the extent
that an interconnected voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service may be used
in more than one location, service providers must employ an automatic location
technology that meets the same accuracy standards that apply to services
provided by circuitswitched commercial mobile radio services (CMRS) carriers.
Canada and U.S. Reach Agreement
The agreement will facilitate deployment of public Safety services near
the U.S.-Canada border in the 764-776 MHz and 794-806 MHz frequency bands.
On June 1, the FCC held a Spectrum Summit: Spectrum Policy
and Management: Building Public Safety Communications.
The Summit
included expert panels composed of representatives from the public safety
community, government and the communications industry. The panelists discussed
issues related to the creation, implementation and management of public safety
spectrum, as well as the benefits of enhancing public/private partnerships to
support a nationwide interoperable public safety communications network.
FCC Seeks Comment on Implementation of a Nationwide,
Broadband, Interoperable Public Safety Network in the 700MHz Band. (Docket
06-229)
The Commission adopted a Ninth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that
proposes a national, centralized approach to maximize public safety access to
interoperable, broadband spectrum in the 700 MHz band. In addition, the
initiative seeks to promote the deployment of advanced broadband applications,
related radio technologies, and modern, IP-based system architecture.
FCC Adopts Order Implementing Katrina Panel Recommendations.
