Cellular Carriers to Be Fined Over 911

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews

December 31st, 2005 was the deadline for cellular carriers to provide E911, or enhanced 911 service to 95% of their customers. This service would give dispatchers the location of a 911 call. The FCC has proposed fines totaling US$2.8 million to three wireless carriers for failing to that deadline, the agency said Thursday.

As of the December 2005 deadline, 81 percent of Sprint’s network had E911 service capabilities, while 74 percent of Nextel’s network did, according to the FCC. The two companies merged in 2005. About 84 percent of Alltel’s customers had E911 service, and about 89 percent of U.S. Cellular’s customers did.

Alltel and U.S. Cellular have since reached the 95 percent threshold, but Sprint Nextel has not, the FCC said. As of December 2005, 15 million Sprint Nextel customers did not have E911 service, the agency said. Source: PC World

We Say: Location is one thing, but speed would be better. The last time I called 911 on my cellular phone was to report a car accident (not mine!). By the time I was connected to the CHP, I was about 10 miles past the accident, and trying to remember exactly where it was.