Sample Letter
(Insert Date Here)
Mr. Tom Sugrue, Chief
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Mr. Sugrue:
As advocates for the rapid deployment of enhanced 9-1-1 services, we
are writing to emphasize the critical importance of bringing this life-saving
technology to the American people as soon as possible. We urge you to continue
to make E9-1-1 a high priority at the Federal Communications Commission
and to hold firm to the deployment schedule the FCC has established.
We recognize that implementing wireless E9-1-1 is not a simple task and
that it requires substantial resources by all parties. Bringing enhanced
emergency services to the nation will also require the coordinated efforts
of the industry, public safety, and the FCC. We applaud your commitment
to this important technology and appreciate your assurances that the FCC
is working with the parties to resolve problems for speedy deployment while
at the same time remaining committed to enforcing its rules.
Having said the above, however, we are concerned that the coordination
of effort may be hindered by use of the FCC's waiver process as a delay
tactic rather than for legitimate, intended purposes. We're even more concerned
of the potential effect waivers may have on the willingness of other industry
participants to expend the necessary resources for timely deployment.
The basic wireless E9-1-1 requirements have been in place since 1996.
Carriers knew then that they would have to provide Phase I and Phase II
capability. Many of the changes made by the FCC since 1996 were made at
the carriers' requests and provided greater flexibility as to how and when
to implement E9-1-1.
In our view, there has been adequate time for wireless carriers and manufacturers
to take the necessary steps which would allow them to meet these long established
deadlines. Any further delays in E9-1-1 deployment may result in the loss
of life. Accordingly, any decision on requests for further delay should
take into consideration one overriding factor, bringing this life-saving
technology to market at the earliest possible date.
We appreciate your work to accomplish this mission, and we urge you to
continue working to bring complete deployment of Phase II location information
to the nation as quickly as possible.
Sincerely,
(Sender's Name Here) | 