NENA Wants E911 Mandates Maintained if TracFone is Designated an ETC
The National Emergency Number Assn. (NENA) raised red flags about a request from wireless reseller TracFone that the FCC potentially lighten the regulatory load placed on it if it’s designated as the first wireless reseller with eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) status under the USF lifeline program. Public safety sources said Tues. while TracFone is relatively small compared to a few of its peers, the issues raised aren’t, especially if other resellers also apply for ETC status.
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The FCC proposed rules that TracFone would have to follow, should it be granted ETC status and TracFone filed a petition asking for modifications. The Commission hasn’t yet taken the step of designating the reseller as an ETC, a step vigorously opposed by USTelecom, which has argued that only carriers that own their own systems should be so designated. NENA focused only on the E911 rules and asked the FCC to impose requirements to protect the low income customers who traditionally buy service from companies like TracFone, which sells pre-paid wireless service.
Rick Jones, NENA operations issues dir., told us if the FCC grants TracFone’s request, it must not relax proposed E911 rules. “When you're establishing a communications method for low income families it is important as much as possible to make sure they have the same E911 that others may have,” Jones said.
First, TracFone asked the FCC to relent on a mandate that it only be allowed to serve as an ETC in areas of the country with wireless E911 service. NENA said this requirement should stand. Jones said many low income families may not understand that just because wireless E911 isn’t available wireline E911 may be. “We have moved beyond the point where we can be satisfied with wireless basic 911 if wireline E911 is available,” NENA said. “While the result may be a temporary commercial disadvantage for TracFone, we must look to the overall balance of public safety costs and benefits.”
Second. TracFone asked that it not have to individually contact the 1,700 PSAPs in the states where it operates to obtain certifications, but instead be allowed to self-certify to the availability of 911 and E911.
“There is… purpose to the originally ordered PSAP certification that needs to be maintained,” NENA said. “That is, TracFone must let the affected PSAPs know in advance that its Lifeline service is being offered in their areas. This required contact will allow the PSAP to ascertain how TracFone, or any other entity with customer information, may be reached at any hour of any day, in the event a 911 call is interrupted or broken off.”
A TracFone spokeswoman couldn’t be reached for comment, but in comments also filed at the FCC this week the company said the lack of objections raised so far to its request for modifications of the ETC order should be taken as evidence by the FCC they should be granted.