Blocking Abusive 911 Calls Is OK

You don’t have to continue to field abusive, inappropriate or otherwise fraudulent 911 calls, according to an FCC notice issued in October, 2002. Even so, Tennesee’s APCO chapter has asked the FCC for clarification on the issue to help end on-going problem 911 call from non-initialized cellular phones. After both NENA and APCO complained of abusive calls back then, and pointed out the FCC’s “must carry” rule for wireless carriers to connect all 911 calls from all handsets, the Commission issued a clarification. They said that its rules do not preclude carriers from blocking harassing 911 calls from non-service initialized phones “pursuant to applicable state and local law enforcement procedures.” This means that you don’t have to answer hundreds–or even thousands–of 911 calls from an unregistered cellular phone before you ask the carrier to shut it down, while your local law enforcement agency investigates the calls. Download (pdf) the FCC’s original Public Notice here. Tennessee APCO filed a petition with the FCC on Feb. 14th acknowledging the ability to block phones, but added, “The carriers have not been prepared to do so when requested by authorities having jurisdiction within the 911 community,” based on technical and liability concerns. Download (pdf) the chapter’s petition here.