FCC Tackles 911’s Transition to IP Technology

With the conversion of the nation’s 911 networks from independent local and analog systems to a nationwide IP-based resource, on Friday the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed two sets of rules that would formalize the copper-to-IP transition and address network vulnerabilities that create so-called “sunny day” 911 outages. The nation’s 911 networks are now largely operated by local governments using analog technical. Within the next 15 years, these systems will be converted to IP technology, and will be linked to form an advanced “next generation” network (NG911) with greater reliability and more capabilities. The FCC’s new rules focus both on large-scale outages caused by infrastructure, but also individual site outages caused by the lack of back-up battery power to a homeowner’s IP telephone set. In the first set of rules, the FCC set out principles “to ensure reliable and resilient 911 service and its continuing partnership with state and local authorities.” Specifically, they set rules to address failures leading to recent multi-state 911 outages and set “demarcation lines” of responsibility for operating and servicing IP 911 networks. In the second set of rules, the commission set requirements for 911 providers to make outage notifications and to certify their technical and operational expertise. Download (pdf) the 911 transition rules, and the rules on 911 reliability.