E911 BLAME GAME

Considering the current state of the economy, it's not surprising that those involved in the estimated $2 billion wireless enhanced-911 rollout are behind schedule. As a result, everyone is resorting to finger pointing about who's to blame, and lately the FCC has been pointing the most fingers. The commission made AT&T Wireless the symbol of all that has gone wrong with the industry's attempt to protect American consumers by fining the carrier an exorbitant $2.2 million because it has not begun implementing a hybrid handset- and network-based location technology solution alongside its GSM network buildout. It's not as if the E911 process is going to wrap up anytime soon — it is not expected to be completed until 2006. With this industry pushing back deadlines and altering requirements as often as the sun rises, it seems a bit harsh to toss all blame in one carrier's direction. Like the FCC, AT&T Wireless has its own way of dealing with criticism: blame the other guy. It is the vendors' fault, the carrier has cried. Then the vendors say public safety answering points aren't even ready to accept Phase II equipment. The FCC, carriers and technology vendors should not lose sight of the fact that wireless already provides American consumers with a higher level of safety than they would have without it. For the industry collectively to maneuver through this current economic environment, everyone has to pull together instead of fixating on who's at fault.