Outreach News - 11/3/2010

1. Chief Charles Werner has written an interesting article regarding the D Block issue now introduced in the U.S. Senate through S. 3625 and S. 3756 as well as H.R. 5081 in the House of Representatives. It is extremely important for everyone in public safety to articulate that the D Block reallocation for first responder use is a non-partisan issue. This initiative has enjoyed support from Democrats and Republicans. In light of yesterday’s elections, public safety will need to educate all new members of Congress on the importance of the D Block transfer to public safety. In the House of Representatives, this legislation is encompassed within H.R. 5081, which comes under the jurisdiction of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The new Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee in the next Congress is not known at the time as the Republicans have not caucused to elect its leadership.

2. On September 23, 2010, the Federal Communications Commission adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Inquiry to improve wireless E911 location accuracy and reliability by examining the next stage of potential regulations that would be commensurate with the surge in wireless usage, encompassing additional voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and wireless services, devices, and applications. Additionally, as recommended in the National Broadband Plan, the E911Location Accuracy FNPRM and NOI seeks comment on the impact of NG911 developments on location accuracy. The E911 Location Accuracy FNPRM and NOI sets deadlines for filing comments and reply comments at 60 and 90 days after publication in the Federal Register. On November 2, 2010, a summary of the E911 Location Accuracy FNPRM and NOI was published in the Federal Register. Accordingly, comments must be filed on or before January 3, 2011; and reply comments must be filed on or before January 31, 2011. Comment filing instructions are set forth in the E911 Location Accuracy FNPRM and NOI.

PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU ANNOUNCES COMMENT AND REPLY COMMENT DATES FOR THE FURTHER NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING AND NOTICE OF INQUIRY IN THE E911 LOCATION ACCURACY PROCEEDING. (DA No. 10-2111). (Dkt No 05-196 07-114 ). Comments Due:
01/03/2011. Reply Comments Due: 01/31/2011. PSHSB . Contact: Patrick Donovan at (202) 418-2413
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-10-2111A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-10-2111A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-10-2111A1.txt