AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless, Sprint-Nextel and T-Mobile USA – agreed to accelerate the availability of text-to-911, with major deployments expected in 2013 and a commitment to nationwide availability by May 15, 2014, notes FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. He adds, “Building on text-to-911 deployments and trials that are already underway, this agreement will accelerate progress and ensure that over 90 percent of the nation’s wireless consumers, including millions of consumers with hearing or speech disabilities, will be able to access emergency services by sending a text message to 911, where local 911 call centers (known as a Public Safety Answering Points, or PSAPs) are also prepared to receive the texts.” The carriers also committed to provide an automatic “bounce back” text message by June 2013 to notify consumers if their attempt to reach 911 via text message was unsuccessful because such service is not yet available in their areas; they then would be instructed to make an actual 911 voice call. The agreement also was signed by APCO International and NENA-The 9-1-1 Association, and the full text can be read here. In separate but related 911 news, the State of Maine awarded FairPoint Communications a five-year contract worth $32 million to handle the state’s next-generation 911 (NG 911) system. FairPoint will provide the system and support to serve Maine’s 26 PSAPs. This contract makes Maine one of the first states to deploy a NG 911 system compliant with the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) standards published in June 2011…The FCC will begin accepting reports of VoIP service outages starting Dec. 17. This stems from the VoIP Outage Order the commission adopted in February that requires mandatory reporting of outages.

The Daily

Subscribe
Thursday–November 21

Adara Assists Dominican Op

Adara Technologies has completed the rollout of its PowerKEY 2024 Conditional Access Time-Wrap solution that’ll let the Dominican Republic-based Aster Tecnodisa continue operating its set-tops beyond their timeout date in late November.

Read the Full Issue
The Skinny is delivered on Tuesday and focuses on the cable profession. You'll stay in the know on the headlines, topics and special issues you value most. Sign Up

Calendar

Dec 4
2024 Most Powerful Women Awards Nominations Open July 8th, 2024.
Apr 16
Cablefax 100 Awards Nominations Open November 13th, 2024.
Full Calendar

Jobs

Seeking an INDUSTRY JOB or hiring for one?
VIEW JOBS

In conjunction with our sister brand, Cynopsis, we are offering hiring managers a deep pool of media-savvy, skilled candidates at a range of experience levels and sectors. The result will be an even more robust industry job board, to help both employers and job seekers.

Contact Carley Ashley, [email protected], for more information about posting a job on the website and our Jobs newsletter, sent twice weekly to 85,000 media professionals.