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The Plan(s) Current Status Comments 19

Network Based Phone Based Poor PSAPs What Can You Do?

In 2002 Sprint was able to announce that their network was e911 ready. However Sprint, like most of CDMA carriers had chosen a phone-based location technology. Sprint's network readiness merely indicated they could send location information to PSAPs that were Phase II compatible.

In 2000, the FCC gave carriers until 2002 to ensure that all new digital handsets sold are Phase II compatible, and extended the deadline for total penetration to 2005. Since 2003, all digital CDMA phones sold by major national and regional carriers, as well as iDen handsets, have aGPS built in for location. However a number of people have older handsets without any location technology. Some people simply haven't felt the need to upgrade their handset yet, while others - especially those in rural areas - have chosen not to upgrade as they prefer the option to use analog services in places where digital signals are weak.

With the deadline for subscriber penetration quickly approaching, the CTIA, on behalf of the carriers, has petitioned the FCC to waive the 95% requirement. Carriers have yet to include data on current penetration of Phase II compatible handsets in their reports to the FCC, but all mention they have no means of forcing subscribers to upgrade. Recently Nextel revealed that in a best case scenario, 70% of their subscribers will have aGPS handsets by the deadline. Sprint will come close to, if not actually achieve the 95% guideline. Verizon believes they could achieve 90% penetration among subscribers.

The FCC has not yet made a decision on this waiver. Should they decide not to waive it, some carriers will have to scramble with special offers and possibly with network improvements in order to convince a large number of subscribers to upgrade in a short period of time. Or it's possible the FCC could simply extend the 95% penetration deadline again.

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