Goto Section: 20.15 | 20.19 | Table of Contents

FCC 20.18
Revised as of October 1, 2008
Goto Year:2007 | 2009
  Sec.  20.18   911 Service.

   (a) Scope of section . The following requirements are only applicable to
   CMRS providers, excluding mobile satellite service (MSS) operators, to the
   extent that they:

   (1) Offer real-time, two way switched voice service that is interconnected
   with the public switched network; and

   (2) Utilize an in-network switching facility that enables the provider to
   reuse frequencies and accomplish seamless hand-offs of subscriber calls.
   These requirements are applicable to entities that offer voice service to
   consumers by purchasing airtime or capacity at wholesale rates from CMRS
   licensees.

   (b) Basic 911 Service. CMRS providers subject to this section must transmit
   all wireless 911 calls without respect to their call validation process to a
   Public Safety Answering Point, or, where no Public Safety Answering Point
   has been designated, to a designated statewide default answering point or
   appropriate local emergency authority pursuant to  Sec. 64.3001 of this chapter,
   provided that “all wireless 911 calls” is defined as “any call initiated by
   a wireless user dialing 911 on a phone using a compliant radio frequency
   protocol of the serving carrier.”

   (c) TTY Access to 911 Services. CMRS providers subject to this section must
   be capable of transmitting 911 calls from individuals with speech or hearing
   disabilities through means other than mobile radio handsets, e.g. , through
   the use of Text Telephone Devices (TTY).

   (d) Phase I enhanced 911 services. (1) As of April 1, 1998, or within six
   months of a request by the designated Public Safety Answering Point as set
   forth  in paragraph (j) of this section, whichever is later, licensees
   subject to this section must provide the telephone number of the originator
   of a 911 call and the location of the cell site or base station receiving a
   911 call from any mobile handset accessing their systems to the designated
   Public Safety Answering Point through the use of ANI and Pseudo-ANI.

   (2) When the directory number of the handset used to originate a 911 call is
   not available to the serving carrier, such carrier's obligations under the
   paragraph (d)(1) of this section extend only to delivering 911 calls and
   available call party information, including that prescribed in paragraph (l)
   of this section, to the designated Public Safety Answering Point.

   Note to paragraph(d): With respect to 911 calls accessing their systems
   through the use of TTYs, licensees subject to this section must comply with
   the requirements in paragraphs (d)(1) and (d)(2) of this section, as to
   calls made using a digital wireless system, as of October 1, 1998.

   (e) Phase II enhanced 911 service. Licensees subject to this section must
   provide to the designated Public Safety Answering Point Phase II enhanced
   911 service, i.e. , the location of all 911 calls by longitude and latitude
   in conformance with Phase II accuracy requirements ( see paragraph (h) of
   this section).

   (f) Phase-in for network-based location technologies. Licensees subject to
   this section who employ a network-based location technology shall provide
   Phase II 911 enhanced service to at least 50 percent of their coverage area
   or 50 percent of their population beginning October 1, 2001, or within 6
   months of a PSAP request, whichever is later; and to 100 percent of their
   coverage area or 100 percent of their population within 18 months of such a
   request or by October 1, 2002, whichever is later.

   (g) Phase-in for handset-based location technologies. Licensees subject to
   this section who employ a handset-based location technology may phase in
   deployment  of Phase II enhanced 911 service, subject to the following
   requirements:

   (1) Without respect to any PSAP request for deployment of Phase II 911
   enhanced service, the licensee shall:

   (i) Begin selling and activating location-capable handsets no later than
   October 1, 2001;

   (ii) Ensure that at least 25 percent of all new handsets activated are
   location-capable no later than December 31, 2001;

   (iii) Ensure that at least 50 percent of all new handsets activated are
   location-capable no later than June 30, 2002; and

   (iv) Ensure that 100 percent of all new digital handsets activated are
   location-capable no later than December 31, 2002, and thereafter.

   (v) By December 31, 2005, achieve 95 percent penetration of location-capable
   handsets among its subscribers.

   (vi) Licensees that meet the enhanced 911 compliance obligations through
   GPS-enabled handsets and have commercial agreements with resellers will not
   be required to include the resellers' handset counts in their compliance
   percentages.

   (2) Once a PSAP request is received, the licensee shall, in the area served
   by the PSAP, within six months or by October 1, 2001, whichever is later:

   (i) Install any hardware and/or software in the CMRS network and/or other
   fixed  infrastructure,  as needed, to enable the provision of Phase II
   enhanced 911 service; and

   (ii) Begin delivering Phase II enhanced 911 service to the PSAP.

   (3) For all 911 calls from portable or mobile phones that do not contain the
   hardware and/or software needed to enable the licensee to provide Phase II
   enhanced 911 service, the licensee shall, after a PSAP request is received,
   support, in the area served by the PSAP, Phase I location for 911 calls or
   other  available best practice method of providing the location of the
   portable or mobile phone to the PSAP.

   (4) Licensees employing handset-based location technologies shall ensure
   that location-capable portable or mobile phones shall conform to industry
   interoperability standards designed to enable the location of such phones by
   multiple licensees.

   (h) Phase II accuracy . (1) By September 11, 2012, licensees subject to this
   section shall comply with the following standards for Phase II location
   accuracy and reliability, to be tested and measured at the PSAP service area
   geographic level:

   (i) For network-based technologies: 100 meters for 67 percent of calls, 300
   meters for 95 percent of calls;

   (ii) For handset-based technologies: 50 meters for 67 percent of calls, 150
   meters for 95 percent of calls.

   (iii) For the remaining 5 percent of calls, location attempts must be made
   and a location estimate must be provided to the appropriate PSAP.

   (2) By the dates specified in this paragraph, carriers must satisfy the
   following requirements:

   (i) By September 11, 2008, carriers must satisfy the location accuracy
   standards in paragraph (h)(1) of this section within each Economic Area (EA)
   in which that carrier operates;

   (ii) By September 11, 2009, carriers must file with the Commission a report
   describing the status of their ongoing efforts to comply with  Sec. 20.18(h);

   (iii) By September 11, 2010, carriers must:

   (A) Satisfy the location accuracy standards in paragraph (h)(1) of this
   section within each Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and Rural Service
   Area (RSA) in which that carrier operates;

   (B) Demonstrate PSAP-level compliance with the location accuracy standards
   in paragraph (h)(1) of this section within at least 75% of the PSAPs the
   carrier serves; and

   (C) Demonstrate accuracy in all PSAP service areas within at least 50% of
   the applicable location accuracy standard ( i.e. , a carrier subject to the
   location accuracy standards in paragraph (h)(1)(ii) of this section must
   achieve  location accuracy of 75 meters for 67 percent of calls in all
   PSAPs).

   (iv) By September 11, 2011, carriers must file with the Commission a report
   describing the status of their ongoing efforts to comply with  Sec. 20.18(h).

   (v)  By  September  11, 2012, carriers must be in full compliance with
    Sec. 20.18(h) at the PSAP service area level.

   (3) In assessing their compliance with the requirements of this section,
   carriers must include only those PSAPs that are capable of receiving Phase
   II location data.

   (i) Reports on Phase II plans. Licensees subject to this section shall
   report to the Commission their plans for implementing Phase II enhanced 911
   service, including the location-determination technology they plan to employ
   and the procedure they intend to use to verify conformance with the Phase II
   accuracy requirements by November 9, 2000. Licensees are required to update
   these plans within thirty days of the adoption of any change. These reports
   and updates may be filed electronically in a manner to be designated by the
   Commission.

   (j) Conditions for enhanced 911 services —(1) Generally. The requirements
   set forth in paragraphs (d) through (h) of this section shall be applicable
   only if the administrator of the designated Public Safety Answering Point
   has requested the services required under those paragraphs and the Public
   Safety  Answering Point is capable of receiving and utilizing the data
   elements associated with the service and a mechanism for recovering the
   Public Safety Answering Point's costs of the enhanced 911 service is in
   place.

   (2) Commencement of six-month period. (i) Except as provided in paragraph
   (ii) of this section, for purposes of commencing the six-month period for
   carrier implementation specified in paragraphs (d), (f) and (g) of this
   section, a PSAP will be deemed capable of receiving and utilizing the data
   elements associated with the service requested, if it can demonstrate that
   it has:

   (A) Ordered the necessary equipment and has commitments from suppliers to
   have it installed and operational within such six-month period; and

   (B) Made a timely request to the appropriate local exchange carrier for the
   necessary trunking, upgrades, and other facilities.

   (ii)  For  purposes  of  commencing  the  six-month period for carrier
   implementation specified in paragraphs (f) and (g) of this section, a PSAP
   that is Phase I-capable using a Non-Call Path Associated Signaling (NCAS)
   technology  will be deemed capable of receiving and utilizing the data
   elements associated with Phase II service if it can demonstrate that it has
   made a timely request to the appropriate local exchange carrier for the ALI
   database upgrade necessary to receive the Phase II information.

   (3) Tolling of six-month period. Where a wireless carrier has served a
   written request for documentation on the PSAP within 15 days of receiving
   the PSAP's request for Phase I or Phase II enhanced 911 service, and the
   PSAP fails to respond to such request within 15 days of such service, the
   six-month period for carrier implementation specified in paragraphs (d),
   (f), and (g) of this section will be tolled until the PSAP provides the
   carrier with such documentation.

   (4) Carrier certification regarding PSAP readiness issues. At the end of the
   six-month period for carrier implementation specified in paragraphs (d), (f)
   and (g) of this section, a wireless carrier that believes that the PSAP is
   not capable of receiving and utilizing the data elements associated with the
   service requested may file a certification with the Commission. Upon filing
   and  service  of  such  certification, the carrier may suspend further
   implementation efforts, except as provided in paragraph (j)(4)(x) of this
   section.

   (i) As a prerequisite to filing such certification, no later than 21 days
   prior to such filing, the wireless carrier must notify the affected PSAP, in
   writing, of its intent to file such certification. Any response that the
   carrier  receives  from  the  PSAP must be included with the carrier's
   certification filing.

   (ii)  The  certification  process  shall  be subject to the procedural
   requirements set forth in sections 1.45 and 1.47 of this chapter.

   (iii) The certification must be in the form of an affidavit signed by a
   director or officer of the carrier, documenting:

   (A) The basis for the carrier's determination that the PSAP will not be
   ready;

   (B) Each of the specific steps the carrier has taken to provide the E911
   service requested;

   (C) The reasons why further implementation efforts cannot be made until the
   PSAP becomes capable of receiving and utilizing the data elements associated
   with the E911 service requested; and

   (D) The specific steps that remain to be completed by the wireless carrier
   and, to the extent known, the PSAP or other parties before the carrier can
   provide the E911 service requested.

   (iv)  All affidavits must be correct. The carrier must ensure that its
   affidavit is correct, and the certifying director or officer has the duty to
   personally determine that the affidavit is correct.

   (v)  A  carrier  may  not engage in a practice of filing inadequate or
   incomplete certifications for the purpose of delaying its responsibilities.

   (vi) To be eligible to make a certification, the wireless carrier must have
   completed  all necessary steps toward E911 implementation that are not
   dependent on PSAP readiness.

   (vii) A copy of the certification must be served on the PSAP in accordance
   with  Sec. 1.47 of this chapter. The PSAP may challenge in writing the accuracy
   of the carrier's certification and shall serve a copy of such challenge on
   the carrier. See  Sec.  Sec. 1.45 and 1.47 and  Sec.  Sec. 1.720 through 1.736 of this chapter.

   (viii) If a wireless carrier's certification is facially inadequate, the
   six-month implementation period specified in paragraphs (d), (f) and (g) of
   this section will not be suspended as provided for in paragraph (j)(4) of
   this section.

   (ix) If a wireless carrier's certification is inaccurate, the wireless
   carrier will be liable for noncompliance as if the certification had not
   been filed.

   (x) A carrier that files a certification under paragraph (j)(4) of this
   section shall have 90 days from receipt of the PSAP's written notice that it
   is capable of receiving and utilizing the data elements associated with the
   service  requested  to  provide  such  service  in accordance with the
   requirements of paragraphs (d) through (h) of this section.

   (5) Modification of deadlines by agreement. Nothing in this section shall
   prevent Public Safety Answering Points and carriers from establishing, by
   mutual consent, deadlines different from those imposed for carrier and PSAP
   compliance in paragraphs (d), (f), and (g)(2) of this section.

   (k) Dispatch service. A service provider covered by this section who offers
   dispatch service to customers may meet the requirements of this section with
   respect to customers who utilize dispatch service either by complying with
   the requirements set forth in paragraphs (b) through (e) of this section, or
   by routing the customer's emergency calls through a dispatcher. If the
   service  provider  chooses  the latter alternative, it must make every
   reasonable effort to explicitly notify its current and potential dispatch
   customers and their users that they are not able to directly reach a PSAP by
   calling 911 and that, in the event of an emergency, the dispatcher should be
   contacted.

   (l) Non-service-initialized handsets. (1) Licensees subject to this section
   that donate a non-service-initialized handset for purposes of providing
   access to 911 services are required to:

   (i) Program each handset with 911 plus the decimal representation of the
   seven  least  significant  digits  of  the  Electronic  Serial Number,
   International Mobile Equipment Identifier, or any other identifier unique to
   that handset;

   (ii) Affix to each handset a label which is designed to withstand the length
   of service expected for a non-service-initialized phone, and which notifies
   the  user  that the handset can only be used to dial 911, that the 911
   operator will not be able to call the user back, and that the user should
   convey the exact location of the emergency as soon as possible; and

   (iii) Institute a public education program to provide the users of such
   handsets    with    information    regarding    the   limitations   of
   non-service-initialized handsets.

   (2) Manufacturers of 911-only handsets that are manufactured on or after May
   3, 2004, are required to:

   (i) Program each handset with 911 plus the decimal representation of the
   seven  least  significant  digits  of  the  Electronic  Serial Number,
   International Mobile Equipment Identifier, or any other identifier unique to
   that handset;

   (ii) Affix to each handset a label which is designed to withstand the length
   of service expected for a non-service-initialized phone, and which notifies
   the  user  that the handset can only be used to dial 911, that the 911
   operator will not be able to call the user back, and that the user should
   convey the exact location of the emergency as soon as possible; and

   (iii) Institute a public education program to provide the users of such
   handsets with information regarding the limitations of 911-only handsets.

   (3)  Definitions. The following definitions apply for purposes of this
   paragraph.

   (i) Non-service-initialized handset. A handset for which there is no valid
   service contract with a provider of the services enumerated in paragraph (a)
   of this section.

   (ii)  911-only  handset.  A  non-service-initialized  handset  that is
   manufactured with the capability of dialing 911 only and that cannot receive
   incoming calls.

   (m) Reseller obligation. (1) Beginning December 31, 2006, resellers have an
   obligation, independent of the underlying licensee, to provide access to
   basic and enhanced 911 service to the extent that the underlying licensee of
   the facilities the reseller uses to provide access to the public switched
   network complies with sections 20.18(d)–(g).

   (2) Resellers have an independent obligation to ensure that all handsets or
   other devices offered to their customers for voice communications and sold
   after December 31, 2006 are capable of transmitting enhanced 911 information
   to the appropriate PSAP, in accordance with the accuracy requirements of
   section 20.18(i).

   [ 63 FR 2637 , Jan. 16, 1998, as amended at  64 FR 60130 , Nov. 4, 1999;  64 FR 72956 , Dec. 29, 1999;  65 FR 58661 , Oct. 2, 2000;  65 FR 82295 , Dec. 28, 2000;
    66 FR 55623 , Nov. 2, 2001;  67 FR 1648 , Jan. 14, 2002;  67 FR 36117 , May 23,
   2002;  68 FR 2918 , Jan. 22, 2003;  69 FR 2519 , Jan. 16, 2004;  69 FR 6581 , Feb.
   11, 2004;  72 FR 27708 , May 16, 2007;  73 FR 8625 , Feb. 14, 2008]

   Effective Date Notes:   1. At  68 FR 2918 , Jan. 22, 2003,  Sec. 20.18, paragraph
   (j) was revised. Paragraphs (j)(4) and (5) contain information collection
   and recordkeeping requirements and will not become effective until approval
   has been given by the Office of Management and Budget.

   2. At  72 FR 27708 , May 16, 2007,  Sec. 20.18, paragraph (a) was revised. The
   paragraph contains information collection and recordkeeping requirements and
   will not become effective until approval has been given by the Office of
   Management and Budget.

   3.  At   73 FR 8625 , Feb. 14, 2008,  Sec. 20.18, paragraph (h) was revised.
   Paragraph (h) contains information collection and recordkeeping requirements
   and will not become effective until approval has been given by the Office of
   Management and Budget.


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