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News
Issue #2001 - 42
(October 2001)
(Updated Oct.
17, 2001)
INFRASTRUCTURE, PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Rhode Island First to Use Wireless E911, Thanks to Sprint
The Federal Communications
Commission’s October 1st deadline has come and gone and
Americans are still without a wireless E911 service across the land.
In a move to put pressure on the nation’s five largest
carriers, the FCC said that beginning later this year new phased-in
deadlines would be implemented based on the technology each company
is implementing.
In the last year, practically every major carrier has filed a
waiver citing technical difficulty. They continually debuted the
merits of the technology needed to implement the second phase of the
Enhanced 911 (E911) system. The system will enable 911 operators to
locate a wireless caller within 50- to 100- feet.
The FCC warned carriers that it would take unspecified action
against those who do not comply with the new deadlines.
Rhode Island To Be First
Come November 9th, residents of Rhode Island will not
have to wait any longer. Thanks to Sprint PCS, wireless users in the
region will become the first to use the E911 system.
Sprint has begun selling GPS-based Samsung phones that transmit
the service. The carrier has also began making test calls to the
E911 center in North Providence, which handles the emergency calls
for the state’s 39 cities and towns.
For more information: http://www.fcc.org
http://www.sprint.com
Mobileinfo Comments & Advisory: We
are glad to see Rhode Island to offer E911 service. We are not sure,
though, that GPS is the right way to determine location information. It
adds more cost to the handset. Of course GPS is more accurate and can
find location with greater resolution than the other two methods - E-OTD
or the cell-ID.
Note: This news release may contain
forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in
developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology
architectures. All trademarks used in this summary are
the property of their respective owners.
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