June 4, 2003

Mr. Chairman, I commend you for holding this hearing today so that this Subcommittee can take a critical look at how Enhanced 911 service, known as E-911, for wireless telephones is being deployed in the United States. Enabling 911 call-takers at Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) to determine the location of wireless 911 calls will not only save many lives, but it will enhance the safety and security of every American. But deployment has been delayed, and all the stakeholders must do better.

This Subcommittee held a similar hearing two years ago. At that time, not one PSAP was able to determine the location of a wireless 911 call. Since then, the public safety community and the wireless industry have made measured progress, but there is still a long way to go.

Today, approximately half of the 5,300 primary PSAPs comply with the FCC’s Phase I requirements, which means that they receive the telephone number of the wireless phone from which a 911 call is being made, as well as the nearest cell site. This is critical information in the event that a call is disconnected prematurely. Eight states and the District of Columbia, however, are without a single PSAP that is able to receive Phase I information. Additionally, roughly 400 PSAPs across the country can now locate wireless callers as required under Phase II, but 24 states and the District of Columbia are without a single Phase II-compliant PSAP.

These figures are troubling because many of the 135 million wireless phone users who have purchased wireless phones did so for safety reasons. Moreover, a growing number of wireless users are canceling their wireline service to their homes and switching to wireless service. When most consumers dial 911 from a wireless phone, they expect that emergency responders can automatically locate them, just as if they had made the call from a wireline phone.

There has been no shortage of excuses for the delays in wireless E-911 deployment. In an effort to obtain an independent analysis of the true problems involved with E-911 deployment, the FCC commissioned Mr. Dale Hatfield, former chief of the Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology, to conduct a thorough analysis of this very complex issue.

We are fortunate to have Mr. Hatfield at the witness table today, as well as Mr. John Muleta, Chief of the Commission’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. These witnesses will provide this Subcommittee with an update on the progress that has been made since the Hatfield report was released last October. It is also encouraging to see other stakeholders here today. You should all know that this Subcommittee is monitoring this issue to ensure that the difficulties encountered with deployment of this life-saving service will be quickly resolved.

I also commend Representatives Anna Eshoo and John Shimkus for their work in establishing the Congressional E-911 Caucus. Their efforts have raised the awareness of the significant issues involved in implementing E-911 and will help focus the attention of Congress on overcoming the challenges that have slowed the implementation of both wireless and wireline E-911 across the United States.

Thank you again, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing, and I look forward to the testimony from each of the witnesses.

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