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Background
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established enhanced 911 (E911) rules and requirements. The purpose of these rules is to improve the effectiveness of wireless 911 service by providing 911 dispatchers with additional information regarding wireless 911 calls. This additional information could literally mean the difference between life and death.
The rules and requirements set up by the FCC apply to all wireless carriers. It is not unique to Cellcom, but rather affects the entire industry.
Timeline
The rules and requirements are divided into sections - Phase I and Phase II. Phase I requires carriers to report the telephone number of a wireless 911 caller and the location of the cell site that received the call. Phase II requires wireless carriers to provide far more precise location information, within 50 to 100 meters in most cases.
The deployment of E911 requires the development of new technologies and upgrades to the local 911 Public Safety Answer Points (PSAP's), as well as coordination among public safety agencies, wireless carriers, technology vendors, equipment manufacturers and local wireline carriers. The FCC established a four-year rollout schedule for Phase II, with completion being December 31, 2005. By December 31, 2005, 95% of all phones on Cellcom's network must be E911 capable.
As a result of these rulings, all phones activated on the Cellcom network must be E911 capable. As we move into 2006, we will determine appropriate plans for updating the phones currently on the network that are not E911 capable.
Benefits of Digital and E911
- Digital phones are more technologically advanced than analog phones.
- More features such as short messaging, message waiting indicators, data services, etc.
- Longer battery life.
- Smaller, more mobile handsets.
- Superior digital voice quality.
- Wireless carriers are making little to no investment in analog infrastructure and eventually analog service will deteriorate. Carriers are, however, required by law to maintain an analog network until February of 2008.
- Once the PSAP's have implemented E911 system changes and customers have E911 capable phones, a call received by a 911 dispatch operator will result in the caller's location being passed to the operator. This additional information will help ensure your safety. At this time Wisconsin PSAP's are quickly updating their systems to be able to receive this information.
- The entire wireless industry must comply with the FCC requirements. All wireless carriers must comply by December of 2005.
For more information regarding E911, please click the link below to the FCC's website.
FCC website
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