On May 30, APCO filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding a new framework which allows wireless carriers to partner with satellite network providers to enable regular cell phones to communicate via satellite. This “Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS)” framework is likely to be especially useful for providing connectivity to callers in remote areas lacking traditional wireless service. The FCC adopted interim requirements for routing SCS 9-1-1 calls directly to emergency communications centers (ECCs) or via an intermediate call center. APCO’s comments addressed several issues, primarily encouraging the FCC to ensure SCS 9-1-1 calls/texts are routed directly to ECCs rather than an intermediate center.
