CTIA, Carriers Raise Concerns on Draft Z-Axis Rules Before FCC

CTIA and the national wireless carriers sounded a note of caution on the timetable proposed in a draft FCC order requiring that carriers be able to identify within 3 meters the vertical location, or z-axis, of wireless calls to 911. Commissioners are to vote Nov. 22 (see 1910290054). “Further testing is currently underway and planned during 2020 to better determine the extent to which ± 3 meters for 80 percent of wireless calls as measured in the 9-1-1 Location Accuracy Test Bed is achievable by April 2021,” CTIA said in docket 07-114, posted Wednesday. The draft “presumes that technologies studied in the earlier test campaigns … are technically feasible and commercially available to meet the Commission’s April 2021 benchmark because firmware or software upgrades could load these technologies onto existing wireless handsets.” It likely “overstates the extent to which these solutions are scalable and deployable by April 2021,” CTIA said. The group and members proposed technical changes to the rules. Instead of referring to an “z-axis capable device,” the FCC could cite “any device capable of measuring and reporting vertical location with a wireless 9-1-1 call without a hardware upgrade.” The association said the text should more accurately reflect “the cautionary views” of industry and public safety groups. CTIA and representatives from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon met with Public Safety Bureau staff. The International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Sheriffs' Association and National Association of State EMS Officials supported the FCC proposal Wednesday. Three meters "not only provides emergency responders with actionable location information, but it also gives the public greater assurance that when they dial 9-1-1 from their cell phones, emergency responders can find them more quickly," IAFC said.