E911 gets thrown into merger debate

In a letter to the FCC, Xypoint expressed its concerns over the repercussions some recently proposed mergers may have on wireless carriers' abilities to comply with E911 regulations.

Xypoint claims SBC and Bell Atlantic deny wireless carriers and competitive local exchange carriers access to their E911 networks, preventing competitive operators from complying with FCC E911 mandates and violating the Telecommunications Act.

"There is not one deployment of Phase I service in all of SBC and Bell Atlantic's territories," said Reuven Carlyle, vice president of external affairs for Xypoint. Other LECs, including GTE and Ameritech, which are Xypoint customers, have offered unbundled access to their databases. Xypoint fears that when GTE and Bell Atlantic, and Ameritech and SBC complete their mergers, their markets too will close the door to E911 database access.

"We are asking the FCC to realize, acknowledge and act on the fact that they have to have stronger oversight," Carlyle said.

The LECs may be hesitant to open their doors to Xypoint because they might be considering their own strategies for delivering 911 information, said Ken Hyres, industry analyst for Cahners In-Stat Group.

"None of the LECs should receive endorsements from the FCC to enter the long-distance markets until they have followed the letter and spirit of the law," Carlyle said.

SBC said it provides competitively neutral access to its 911 information and is involved in a trial with Xypoint and others in California, according to a spokesman. Bell Atlantic said that it asked Xypoint for a written request for interconnection following a discussion with the company but has not received the request, said a spokesman. Bell Atlantic also cannot accommodate for Xypoint until it completes an E911 database upgrade now in progress, he said.

While Xypoint's statements aim to assure continued relationships in current GTE and Ameritech markets, they may not help the company win future business with SBC or Bell Atlantic, Hyers said.

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