FCC Adopts Rules to Make 911 Calling More Reliable

The Federal Communications Commission adopted rules to help ensure that Americans’ phone calls to 911 are delivered during disasters.

The rules are designed to improve 911 communications networks nationwide by requiring 911 service providers -- generally, the wireline phone companies that route both wireline and wireless calls to 911 call centers -- to take reasonable measures to provide reliable and resilient 911 service, as evidenced by an annual certification. The FCC also strengthened its rules to ensure that 911 service providers give 911 call centers timely and useful notification of 911 network outages. The new rules are designed to maximize flexibility for 911 service providers and account for differences in network architecture without sacrificing reliability. Accordingly, the rules require service providers to certify annually that they have either implemented industry-backed best practices or acceptable alternative measures that are reasonably sufficient in light of their particular circumstances, so long as they briefly explain those measures. The best practices cover three core areas: auditing 911 circuits for physical diversity, maintaining central office backup power, and maintaining reliable and resilient network monitoring systems. If needed, the Bureau may follow up with service providers to address deficiencies revealed by the certification process. The FCC will review these rules in five years to determine whether they are still technologically appropriate, adequate, and necessary. In addition, the FCC amended its rules to now give 911 service providers deadlines and other more specific requirements for notifying 911 call centers of outages.

Commissioners Pai and O’Rielly dissented.