FCC chief wants better 911 access for cellphones

FCC CHIEF WANTS BETTER 911 ACCESS FOR CELLPHONES
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Leslie Cauley]
For consumers to figure out how a cellphone carrier stacks up on 911 services is nearly impossible. The Federal Communications Commission requires wireless carriers with GPS-based systems — Verizon Wireless is one — to be able to verify the location of callers 67% of the time. Even then, however, they have to do it within only 492 feet of a person's actual location. For network-based systems — AT&T's Cingular is in this group — the requirements are about 328 feet 67% of the time. The problem: The FCC lets the carriers decide whether to calculate performance city-by-city or on a nationwide basis. AT&T and Verizon Wireless both decline to break out local 911 performance numbers, saying only that they meet FCC requirements. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin says the industry, as well as his agency, must do better than that.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20070423/e911_martinside.art.htm

* Growing wireless use highlights limitations of 911 services
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20070423/e911_safety.art.htm