Wireless Location Accuracy, Digital Mapping Items Expected at July FCC Meeting
The FCC is expected to consider vertical location accuracy for wireless calls to 911, and something on the digital opportunity data collection at the July 16 commissioners’ meeting, agency and industry officials said. Chairman Ajit Pai is expected to release a blog post on the meeting Wednesday, with drafts the following day.
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Vertical location rules have been controversial. The FCC in November approved over a dissent by Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel rules requiring carriers to provide height above ellipsoid (HAE) data from wireless calls to 911, within 3 meters accuracy for 80 percent of calls, starting in the largest markets in April 2021 (see 1911220034). APCO complained of retreating from the earlier focus on dispatchable location.
CTIA and the major carriers pressed for an alternative nationwide z-axis benchmark. The association reported last week on calls with aides to all five commissioners, joined by AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile (see here and here).
“Z-axis rules were structured around the technology solutions -- network-dependent solutions -- deemed promising more than five years ago,” CTIA said in docket 07-114. A mobile operating system-based approach would mean reaching more markets faster, the group said. In May, CTIA spoke to aides to the commissioners on the benefits of a device-based solution offered by Google.
Polaris Wireless raised concerns about alternatives being offered for meeting the deadline. “These proposals have been submitted under seal so that they cannot be evaluated and are predicated upon the Commission’s belated and unwarranted acceptance of an accuracy standard which the Public Safety and first responder community has repeatedly stated is not sufficient,” Polaris said May 27. CTIA submitted the most recent report on its vertical access testbed under seal May 5.
“If there is a z-axis item on the FCC’s agenda this month, we hope they would again strike an appropriate balance between public safety’s needs and what is technically feasible, as they did in the” last order, emailed Dan Henry, regulatory counsel at the National Emergency Number Association. He hadn't seen any draft.
Pai is also expected to circulate a notice on data collection, also sought by carriers that want the FCC to move forward on a new Mobility Fund (see 2004230046). A March broadband data law requires data collection but doesn’t fund completing mobile coverage maps (see 2003240049).
The 911 accuracy and broadband mapping “are good for them to be working on,” said Carri Bennet, counsel to the Rural Wireless Association.
CTIA, the Competitive Carriers Association and the other major public safety groups didn’t comment. The FCC declined comment Monday.