U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation

For Immediate Release
September 12th, 2007

SEN. STEVENS PRAISES FCC FOR NEW E9-1-1 RULES

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today praised the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for new rules on locating wireless E9-1-1 calls. The FCC has set a series of benchmarks to improve location accuracy for wireless E9-1-1 calls, and full compliance to the new rules must be completed by September 2012. The new standards were proposed jointly by the National Emergency Number Association and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials.

"I commend Chairman Martin and all of the FCC Commissioners for establishing measurable benchmarks to improve the process for locating E9-1-1 calls,” said Senator Stevens. “Determining the accurate location of emergency calls can mean the difference between life and death, and these new standards will assist both the wireless industry and the public safety community in making wireless emergency calls more reliable. The technical issues involved will require government, public safety and industry to work together cooperatively to achieve our common goals.”

In July, Congress passed the 9-1-1 Modernization Act of 2007, sponsored by Senator Stevens, as part of legislation to implement security recommendations from the 9/11 Commission (H.R. 1). The provision will expedite the distribution of $43.5 million that was allocated by Congress in the digital transition bill.

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U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation


For Immediate Release September 12th, 2007

SEN. STEVENS PRAISES FCC FOR NEW E9-1-1 RULES

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today praised the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for new rules on locating wireless E9-1-1 calls. The FCC has set a series of benchmarks to improve location accuracy for wireless E9-1-1 calls, and full compliance to the new rules must be completed by September 2012. The new standards were proposed jointly by the National Emergency Number Association and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials. "I commend Chairman Martin and all of the FCC Commissioners for establishing measurable benchmarks to improve the process for locating E9-1-1 calls,” said Senator Stevens. “Determining the accurate location of emergency calls can mean the difference between life and death, and these new standards will assist both the wireless industry and the public safety community in making wireless emergency calls more reliable. The technical issues involved will require government, public safety and industry to work together cooperatively to achieve our common goals.” In July, Congress passed the 9-1-1 Modernization Act of 2007, sponsored by Senator Stevens, as part of legislation to implement security recommendations from the 9/11 Commission (H.R. 1). The provision will expedite the distribution of $43.5 million that was allocated by Congress in the digital transition bill.