David Furth, Deputy Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, FCC; John Evanoff, Division Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, FCC; Roberto Mussenden, Senior Advisor, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, FCC
Representatives from the Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau provided updates on agency regulations impacting 9-1-1, including public safety spectrum, location-based routing, 9-1-1 location accuracy, text-to-911, and fee diversion.
On spectrum, Deputy Chief David Furth stated, “The 4.9 GHz band is our highest spectrum priority at the moment” and discussed efforts to refocus use of the band on public safety. Division Chief John Evanoff also discussed how advances in technology have led to the FCC taking a renewed look at certain 9-1-1 issues, such as location-based routing and the implementation of Next Generation 9-1-1. Mr. Evanoff explained that the FCC recently sought to refresh the record on both of these issues by seeking comment on their feasibility, among other things. Finally, Senior Advisor Roberto Mussenden reported on FCC efforts to address emergency communications resiliency and outlined recent rule changes that require the wireless carriers to develop roaming agreements with each other.
