FCC Fines Carriers, Imposes Additional Requirements to Ensure Improved 9-1-1 Location Accuracy
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On June 3, the FCC announced agreements with the nation’s largest wireless carriers to ensure that they improve indoor 9-1-1 location accuracy capabilities. The FCC’s rules included an April 2021 benchmark for the carriers to provide vertical location information, either by dispatchable location - the preferred method for ECCs - or z-axis information presented as a “height above ellipsoid.” In 2020, the carriers sought reconsideration and delay of that benchmark, arguing technical infeasibility. APCO joined with other public safety organizations to urge the FCC to reject the carriers’ request and send a clear signal that it will not tolerate delay tactics. Under the recent agreements, each carrier is subject to a $100,000 fine and must comply with the enhanced location accuracy requirements in the rules by April 2022. Additionally, the carriers are subject to additional oversight and reporting requirements for delivering both z-axis and dispatchable location information and must create ECC education campaigns on the z-axis information that will be delivered to ALI databases.
