[accesscomp] FW: Disability.gov Update: FCC Adopts New Rules to Expand Text-to-911 Availability, Dan's tip for Tuesday August 12 2014
- From: "Robert Acosta" <boacosta@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "tektalk discussion" <tektalkdiscussion@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 09:46:58 -0700
Robert Acosta, President
Helping Hands for the Blind
(818) 998-0044
www.helpinghands4theblind.org
From: dan Thompson [mailto:dthompson5@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2014 3:23 AM
To: dan Thompson
Subject: Disability.gov Update: FCC Adopts New Rules to Expand Text-to-911
Availability, Dan's tip for Tuesday August 12 2014
Disability.gov Update: FCC Adopts New Rules to Expand Text-to-911
Availability
August 11 2014
FCC ADOPTS RULES TO PROMOTE WIDESPREAD TEXT-TO-911 AVAILABILITY
Building on the Progress of Large Wireless Carriers,
FCC Establishes Timetable for Remaining Text Messaging Providers to Support
Text-to-911
Washington, D.C. -The Federal Communications Commission today adopted rules
requiring text
messaging providers to enable Americans to text 911 in an emergency.
Building on commitments made by
America's four largest wireless carriers to support text-to-911 by May 2014,
the new rules will ensure that
all remaining wireless carriers and certain IP-based text application
providers are prepared to support text-
to-911 by the end of the year. After that time, if a 911 call center
requests text-to-911, text messaging
providers will have six months to deploy the service in that area.
Today's action will make text-to-911 more uniformly available and keeps pace
with how Americans
communicate. Reports indicate that more than 7 out of 10 cell phone users
send or receive text messages.
Text messaging is also widely used by Americans who are deaf, hard of
hearing, or have speech disabilities.
The Commission's text-to-911 requirements apply to wireless carriers and
"interconnected" text messaging
providers (i.e., those which enable consumers to send text messages to and
from U.S. phone numbers). This
includes providers of "over the top" applications that support texting to
and from phone numbers but not,
for example, messaging apps that only support communications among users of
games or social media.
The Commission also adopted a Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
that seeks comment on the
continued evolution of text-to-911, including the delivery of location
information and support for text-to-
911 when roaming.
Although text-to-911 availability is currently limited, it is rapidly
expanding. More than one hundred 911
call centers serving portions of 16 states and two entire states (Vermont
and Maine) are now accepting
emergency texts, and there are already reports of lives saved. To help
protect consumers as text-to-911 is
deployed, the Commission previously adopted rules requiring text messaging
providers to send an
automatic "bounce-back" text message to consumers who try to text 911 where
the service is not available.
Text-to-911 can provide a lifesaving alternative in a number of different
situations, such as where a person
who is deaf, hard of hearing, or has a speech disability is unable to make a
voice call; where voice networks
are congested; or where a 911 voice call could endanger the caller.
Approximately 48 million Americans are
deaf or hard of hearing, and approximately 7.5 million Americans have speech
disabilities. However text-to-
911 is a complement to, not a substitute for, existing voice-based 911
service, so consumers should make a
voice call to contact 911 during an emergency when possible; consumers who
are deaf, hard of hearing, or
speech disabled should use relay services or other existing methods to
contact 911 if text-to-911 is
unavailable.
2Action by the Commission August 8, 2014, by Second Report and Order and
Third Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (FCC 14-118). Chairman Wheeler and Commissioner Rosenworcel,
Commissioner Clyburn
approving in part and dissenting in part, Commissioner Pai dissenting and
Commissioner O'Rielly concurring
in part and dissenting in part. Chairman Wheeler, Commissioners Clyburn,
Rosenworcel, Pai and O'Rielly
issuing statements.
*Voteline was corrected on August 11, 2014.
- FCC -
NEWS
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C. 20554
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the
full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830
TTY 202/418-2555
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
ftp.fcc.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
August 8, 2014 Rochelle Cohen, (202) 418-1162
Email: rochelle.cohen@xxxxxxx
For more news and information about the FCC please visit: www.fcc.gov
"Without the Way there is no going; without the Truth there is no knowing;
without the Life there is no living."
-Thomas A Kempis
To subscribe to Dan's tips or dedaily devotions, send an email to
dthompson5@xxxxxxxxx with either "subscribe dan's tips" or "subscribe daily
devotion" in the subject.
This message has been scanned by Norton 360
Other related posts:
- » [accesscomp] FW: Disability.gov Update: FCC Adopts New Rules to Expand Text-to-911 Availability, Dan's tip for Tuesday August 12 2014 - Robert Acosta
