Verizon Wireless decides against priority access

Verizon Wireless late last week withdrew a waiver petition it had filed with the FCC on Nov. 2 that had asked for permission to implement a limited form of priority access service (PAS)--Immediate Service PAS--to the National Communications System (NCS).

The NCS administers and manages the assets of 23 federal organizations in serving the national security and emergency preparedness (NSEP) needs of federal, state and local governments. The FCC had issued PAS rules in October 2000 that govern how commercial mobile radio services (CMRS) providers such as Verizon Wireless provide voluntary PAS services to NSEP personnel.

The rules dictate that CMRS providers offering PAS do so under uniform operating protocols that determine the number of priority levels and the priority level for specific NSEP users. Under Section 64.402 of the rules, PAS lets NSEP users in emergencies gain access to the next available wireless channel without pre-empting calls already in progress.

Waivers of the rules may be granted in instances where the “application of the rules would be inequitable, unduly burdensome or contrary to the public interest … [or when] the applicant has no reasonable alternative,” according to the FCC.

A Verizon spokesperson said the company had no direct comment on its withdrawal of the waiver petition--which had been supported by the NCS--saying only that, “We’re not commenting on the record, off the record or anything else. We’re going to let the filing with the FCC do the talking for us.”

In the filing, the company said the better course concerning PAS is to “respond to the government’s emergency communications needs in ways that do not require FCC action at this time.”

Specifically, Verizon said it would continue to work with other wireless carriers on a “more comprehensive,” industrywide solution for providing government agencies with priority access to commercial networks.

In addition, Verizon indicated it plans to “take action” to increase its network capacity and the ability of its personnel to place calls. Potential actions include the deployment of portable cell sites, rerouting of traffic, distribution of handsets and allocation of personnel to areas experiencing--or expecting to experience--sharp call-volume spikes.

The events of Sept. 11 seemed to weigh heavily on the company’s decision to withdraw the waiver petition. In the filing, Verizon noted its deployment of 21 cells on wheels and the distribution of more than 7000 handsets in the aftermath of the tragedies in New York City and Washington, D.C.

These actions “promote the goals of PAS by increasing the likelihood that government personnel can place and receive calls in high-demand situations, while avoiding the need for a waiver that Immediate PAS would have required,” the Verizon filing states.