AUSTIN, Nov. 9-Members of an FCC task force examining issues regarding the transition to next generation 911 (NG 911) service gathered this morning to consider potential funding sources, including asking Congress to divert some proceeds from spectrum auctions to states for NG 911, and taking action to prevent states from diverting 911 funds to other areas. The discussion was held during the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners’ (NARUC) annual meeting being held here this week.

NARUC’s Telecommunications Committee this morning heard from members of the Task Force on Optimal PSAP Architecture (TFOPA), which is slated to provide the FCC with concrete recommendations in January 2016 that will combine the findings of the three working groups – Cybersecurity; the Optimal PSAP Architecture; and Funding and Resource Allocation. NARUC’s telecom committee this morning approved a draft resolution that supports the report released by working group 3 on Sept. 28.

Commissioner Phil Jones, a member of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, and chair of working group 3, said that the other two working group reports will be released at the task force’s Dec. 10 meeting.

Commissioner Jones said the working group 3 report calls for more planning and developing PSAP architecture, continued effective coordination between states, PSAPs, and the FCC, and also discusses the quality and accuracy of data submitted by PSAPs and state agencies.  The report also looks various funding mechanisms that are available to states in order to ensure networks are properly funded.

The report concludes that diverting state 911 funds to other areas is a “very bad practice,” and needs to be addressed, Commissioner Jones said. “It’s bad for NG 911 deployment and it’s bad for public safety. We need to find a way to stop it.”As for funding alternatives, the report discussed “tightening up prepaid wireless collections,” and imposing a network connection fee on upstream bandwidth.

David Simpson, chief of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, said there are funding problems because the 911 funding mechanism in most states is tied to legacy technologies.  “We are seeing jurisdictions that are faced with a tough thing because they can’t fund their networks.  So they increase the fee on legacy networks which creates disproportionate funding.”

“We need to apply some work toward matching burden to benefit,” Mr. Simpson said, adding that the ultimate decisions regarding funding should be made by the states and localities.

“We are hopeful the report will assist states in determining what is best for them,” Mr. Simpson said. At the same time, he said that “Congress can have a positive role in addressing a couple things if they chose to.”  Congress expects the transition to NG 911 to be fairly uniform across the nation, but for that to happen Congress needs to come up with a funding mechanism, he said., such as using funds from the upcoming spectrum auction or other matching grant funds.

“It is clear that the trajectory we are on will result in PSAPs that have the full next generation capabilities while other PSAPs will just have voice capability,” he said.  “We’re seeing that right now with text to 911.  Only 6% to 7% of the PSAPs have text to 911 capabilities right now.”

Jim Goerke, chief executive of the Texas 911 Alliance, a group of 25 emergency communications districts, and a working group member, said there is no question about the challenges being faced in terms of funding 911.

“It is a technology-based public safety service so as the technology changes so must the funding,” he said. “Historically 911 has been funded through service fees that are based on physical connections. The challenge is when the physical connection becomes a virtual connection.”

While funding decisions should be made at the state level, “that’s not to say that additional grants and funding from Congress couldn’t play a significant role,” Mr. Goerke said.

Mary Boyd, VP-external affairs, Intrado, said that all three working groups have stressed the importance to maintain local control and states’ rights.  Ms. Boyd, who has served on all three working groups, said the “entire goal of the initiatives is to give local governments options.” – Carrie DeLeon, carrie.deleon@wolterskluwer.com

Courtesy TRDaily