Lawmakers will not go on hold for E-911 deadline -- GCN

Lawmakers will not go on hold for E-911 deadline

By William Jackson
Aug 10, 2001

A group of 16 House lawmakers last month urged Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael K. Powell to take a hard line on enforcing the October deadline for making Enhanced 911 services available to cell phone users and emergency dispatchers.

E-911 technology will let cellular carriers track the location of any cell phone that is turned on, information that would be relayed automatically to dispatchers when a 911 call is made from the phone. Currently, there is no accurate way to determine the location of cellular callers (see story, Page 28).

At least three major carriers and a number of smaller ones have requested waivers.
A spokesman for Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), who spearheaded the letter, could find no indication that any carrier had misused the waiver process.

About the Author

William Jackson is a Maryland-based freelance writer.

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