FCC chair Kevin Martin has told an Associated Press reporter the agency will issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking within the next few weeks to require improved accuracy of Phase II cellular 911 systems. Martin said the rules would address the technical methods that now measure the accuracy of Phase II systems used by cellular carriers, but would not change the accuracy level itself. Phase II must now pinpoint a caller within from 50 to 300 meters, depending upon the type of system used. Carriers now measure their accuracy compliance on a large, regional basis, instead of a smaller metro area, which could decrease accuracy in high-traffic areas where 911 calls are critical.

The New York Times has tackled the subject of 911 and its ability–or inability–to locate callers in a long story in today’s edition. The story retells several incidents of persons who were able to dial 911, but the PSAP didn’t have Phase II technology to locate the person. Check the story (reg. may be required) here.

A U.S. Justice Department inspector general says the $5 billion project to build a nationwide radio system for federal public safety agencies is short of funding and has a “high risk of failure.” The Integrated Wireless Network (IWIN) system was supposed to be completed in 2001, but the IG found many administrative and funding problems. The system is intended to provide voice, data and high-bandwidth information anywhere in the country to agencies such as the FBI, DEA, and DHS. Download (pdf) a copy of the 65-page report here.

A new radio system for Irish police agencies is still two years away, the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has revealed. A new system was first planned 12 years ago, but the project has been moving slowly ever since. The new radio system will be used nationwide and use digital technology and cost about $133 million. Political opponents of the minister say he’s making the annoucement no as a pre-election publicity stunt, but McDowell denies that. The current radio system was built in 1984 and has lots of deadspots. The new radio system would be compatible with the UK system and others used in Europe.

Today a Whitfield County (Geo.) jury sentenced former Cobb County (Geo.) 911 dispatcher Lynn Turner to a life sentence without parole for the murder of her firefighter boyfriend in 2001 by poisoning. Turner is already serving a life sentence for the 1995 murder of her police officer husband, also by poisoning. During the sentencing hearing, Turner’s mother pleaded with the jury not to issue a death sentence, saying it would devastate her two young children, ages 8 and 11. The jury deliberated just five hours on the sentence. Prosecutors alleged that she killed both men for insurance money. Find more details about the case at the Court TV Web site.

Defense attorneys for murder defendant Shawn Bentler have asked a Van Buren County (Iowa) court to exclude a 911 logging tape made by a witness, saying the call contains heresay statements about the murder of five persons at a rural house last October. Bentler, 22, is accused of shooting his parents and three teen-age sisters to death, and the sheriff’s office says they have no motive for the killings. One of the sisters dialed 911 and described what her mother was telling her. Because the sister didn’t actually witness anything, Bentler’s attorneys want the 911 tape excluded. The case is being heard by a judge, who is now dealing with preliminary motions before the trail begins.

St. Clair County (Mich.) residents who want to dial the county’s Central Dispatch for service will now have to pay for the call. The center just moved to new quarters, and they disconnected a toll-free 800 number previously offered for residents to use when their local police department is on after-hours service. County administrator Shaun Groden said the disconnection was a cost-saving measure, although interestingly he said he was unsure what the 800 line cost. Citizens can still dial 911 for emergency help, but will have to dial a 7-digit number, possible paying tolls, for non-emergency contact with the center.

A Smith County (Tex.) resident spotted two young girls walking alone beside a highway, dialed 911 for help, and ended up writing a complaint letter to express his frustration. The man said the sheriff’s dispatcher was “unprofessional,” there was a jurisdictional error, and the response was slow. But county and Tyler city officials pointed out what actually happened. Read the full story here.

A Garrett County (Md.) grand jury has visited the county’s Emergency Management comm center and agreed with director Bud Frantz that staffing should be increased to provide more than one dispatcher on-duty at most times. The center has 8 employees, which limits how many shifts can be covered with two dispatchers, he noted. The grand jury said their position probably would not be approved by the county commissioners because of budget constraints, but they asked that staffing be given top priority during the next round of budget talks. A future new sheriff’s headquarters could provdie the opportunity to gain some positions, county officials said.

You’ll recall the woman who dialed 911 after she became trapped in a Port Huron (Mich.) carwash? Now police have released the logging tape of the call. “This is redicuous,” the woman admitted. “I’m freakin’ out.” The dispatcher tried to obtain information about the carwash to call the owner during the 4-minute call, but didn’t send police or fire units. Listen to the call here, or read a follow-up store here.

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is fast approaching, and there are at least two places where you can find dispatcher-related items. The 911 CARES program has a full range of apparel, keychains and other items at all prices for your special dispatcher. And the By Dispatchers 4 Dispatchers Web site has some very special items–including nail art!

The blitz is coming, and it’s arriving with trucks, cameras and reporters. That’s what happened in Calumet County (Wisc.) in preparation for an infamous murder trial. The courthouse parking spaces were taken over by antenna-topped trucks and reporters from TV, radio and print media took over a training room to set up mini-studios for the televised trial. Check these photos to help prepare you for the next big incident.

Both FEMA and NENA are opposing a proposed ban on the importation of electronics chips manufactured abroad by Qualcomm Inc. The ban is being considered by the U.S. International Trade Commission, in response to a judge’s ruling last October that Qualcomm infringed on another company’s patents. In written comments, NENA president wrote in a 2-page letter to the agency, “A key aspect of our member’s work is receiving 9-1-1 calls placed from cellular telephones,” and that blocking importation of chips that go into EV-DO technology handsets might mean cellular customers would be using handsets with less accuracy for 911 calls. Download (pdf) the letter here.

An article in the Fremont (Neb.) Tribune newspaper says that the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office and Fremont Police Department comm centers now have Phase II capabilities to locate wireless 911 callers. The upgrade cost about $60,000, with about $40,000 of that paid by the state. Read about their new system here.

The Transition Administrator for the FCC-mandated 800 MHz rebanding project has announced what they call “Subscriber Equipment Deployment” resources to help agencies replace equipment, software upgrade kits, and associated installation services in advance of negotiating a Frequency Reconfiguration Agreement. If you need it, you know it. Find full info here.