The FCC and other groups with alerting responsibilities want to compare location accuracy data for 911 calls placed on cell phones nationwide. That’s why Commercial Mobile Radio Service providers must file reports with this data to the FCC by February 3 — a new requirement. This change is part of the effort to improve pinpointing where a wireless 911 caller is so emergency responders can get to the person quickly.
Carriers that provide CMRS in six test cities must file quarterly reports of their aggregate 911 call location data while others must do so every six months. The test cities are: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Manhattan, Philadelphia, and San Francisco and their surrounding metros.
The reports must breakout the variety of indoor environments in which wireless 911 calls are made, such as dense urban, suburban or rural areas. For example, dense areas are typically defined as areas where “Very high cell site concentration is also observed. Cell site radii are generally under half a mile.” Suburban areas are typically defined as: “Area is typically covered by a few cell sites. Cell site radii are typically in the 1-2 mile range.”
Reports must include the positioning source method — based on either geodetic coordinates or dispatchable location — used for each live 911 call. All CMRS providers, both nationwide and non-nationwide carriers, should use the reporting template, obtainable here.
In addition to the Commission, CMRS providers must also file reports with the National Emergency Number Association, the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, and the National Association of State 911 Administrators.
January 23, 2017
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