NextNav Urges FCC to Act on Wireless Location Accuracy Standard

NextNav executives urged FCC Public Safety Bureau staff to act on a proposed rule requiring carriers meet a new vertical location (z-axis) accuracy metric for indoor wireless calls to 911. Commissioners approved a Further NPRM in March (see 1903150067). There was little consensus in comments last month (see 1905210061). NextNav executives "discussed some of the mechanics of implementing a 3 meter vertical location metric,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 07-114. “They expressed support for applying the requirement to all z-axis capable handsets, noting that barometric pressure sensors are already widely deployed in smartphones. Further, the software to calibrate these sensors can be uploaded to many smartphones as a part of an over-the-air update of the operating system.”