Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Reports on 911 Over Wi-Fi, NENA and Nation's 911 Leaders Call for Changes in US House 9-1-1 Funding Bill, USAC is Notified of FCC Review and Approval Procedures for 2021 Schools and Libraries Funding PIA
The Federal Communications Commission submitted a report to Congress indicating that Wi-Fi could be used to expand emergency services – eventually. There have been significant improvements to the provision of voice and broadband connectivity over Wi-Fi for non-emergency communications that can be used to improve emergency communications. At this time, however, there are many issues – both technical and policy – that need to be resolved before 911 calls can reliably interact with mobile devices, cellular networks, Wi-Fi networks, and public safety answering points.
In a recent press release, groups representing the state and local leaders of America’s 9-1-1 systems are pleased that the infrastructure bill being assembled in the U.S. House includes major funding for 9-1-1 system upgrades, but they are concerned that some provisions in the bill could undermine the rollout of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1).
In a March 19 letter to the leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee from NENA: The 9-1-1 Association and the National Association of State 9-1-1 Administrators (NASNA), the groups said, “We strongly support Congressional efforts to make the investments necessary to ensure an advanced and secure emergency communications infrastructure.” But they added that Congress must make modifications to the LIFT America Act “or risk compromising NG9-1-1 for many years ahead.”
Specifically, NENA and NASNA seek to work with Congress to improve LIFT-Act language pertaining to:
The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sent a letter to notify the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) that the Bureau approves the Schools and Libraries Funding Year 2021 Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) FCC Form 471 Review Procedures, subject to further modifications and/or instruction from the Commission.
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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of an Inteserra Briefing.