What the FCC Should Do for Cellular 911

Location is helpful, but if you can't make a call, what good is it?

By Neil Schubert

(updated 7/08)

While I certainly understand the need for “top priority” of access to cellular 911 service, the notion that it is the responsibility of the cellular carrier to give a physical location of the subscriber/caller is absolutely ridiculous, and technologically, while not impossible, very inhibiting to both the subscriber and the carrier.

The Communications Act(s) of 1927 and 1934 make “distress” and emergency communications a legal priority over all other communications transmitted by radiotelephone. With these acts, ALL radiotelephone operators, a general term of the day used to describe wireless communications, are required to relay emergency information received to proper authorities. The acts also state that the person sending the distress communication must state their location, the details of the emergency, and their call sign, if available.

The main problem with current regulations is that the FCC is trying to apply part 68 land-line communication rules to mobile phones which do not operate in the same manner. Radiotelephone rules clearly apply to cellular phones, landline rules do not.

What initiatives should the FCC take??

1. Create a stand-alone emergency call system, whereby the user could purchase an inexpensive emergency-only phone which would include GPS locater technology. Such a device would be independent of cellular carriers, and would not need to be “activated”. The device would only be able to call for emergency assistance, and would provide the user with buttons for basic types of emergencies:

A. Medical emergencies

B. Police Emergencies (theft in progress, robbery, etc)

C. Fire Emergencies

D. Car Accidents

E. Non-life threatening vehicle related emergency (i.e. broken down/stuck in road)

F. Aviation Emergencies

G. Homeland Security Emergencies

H. Test calls

1. Establish enforceable fines against cellular carriers who fail to properly respond to 911 calls. These include calls made from non-active cell phones, phones that do not use the most current compression tables, and calls made via analog cellular. Yes, this would require the FCC to allow analog cell towers to continue to operate, in areas where digital does not cover or is not useable. Carriers who fail to respond to distress calls, including FCC test calls, will be subject to fines of not more than $25,000 per incident. An incident is defined as a call which cannot reach a 911 center or local emergency authority, at or before 3 consecutive tries (i.e. redials) are attempted, within a specified microvolt range defined by FCC engineering standards. While I don't like FCC fines, there is simply no excuse for not responding to a distress call, since this could be a life and death situation.

2. Establish prioritization of emergency and distress calls within a spread digital spectrum. Distress calls are to be given priority within a multiplexed spectrum over standard communications, especially during high call volume periods.

3. Establish a specified multiplex spread band for emergency calls.

4. Establish better signal requirements for cellular phones.

Cellular devices would need some changes:

A. End the 650mW max power for handhelds; Cell phones are currently variable.

B. Establish transmit power based on receive level, so that distant towers can be reached. While this may already be established, the consumer should have the option of turning on a “high power” mode.

C. Establish a 1 watt minimum power capability for handhelds; cell phones would be able to operate at whatever necessary level.

D. Require all handhelds to have FUNCTIONAL retractable antennas to prevent the user's hand from detuning and or blocking the built-in antenna.

F. Require all handheld phones to have a STANDARDIZED external antenna connector for use in cars and fixed locations where signal is weak or unstable (or see H)

G. Require service providers to provide and make available to consumers, hardwire base-stations for installation in cars. Such phones would be able to be used on the same number with handhelds. Unlike handhelds, these phones would have simplified, non-menu based displays and standard phone keypads with only Send, End, Mem. Hardwired hands free microphones like those used in earlier car phones, would be standard.

H. Not a requirement of the FCC, but establish a universal interface where a handheld cell phone could plug into a vehicle base station. This would allow the user to use a wired antenna, and a vehicle's battery to power the phone. This would eliminate the “dead battery” issue that can prevent emergency calls from being made. Almost every time I have found a need to make an emergency call on a cell phone, I have found that I had a dead battery. A standardized connector shared by multiple cell companies, would allow users to plug their phone in, and use a higher-powered RF section to transmit and receive. Thus, you would not have as many dropped calls from users talking on a cell phone through the windows and metal of their car. Not blue tooth, but the opposite. This would also allow manufacturers to add advanced features that could interface with vehicles.