E-911 Days of Our Lives

Providers' E-911 Phase II implementation reports were due on Nov. 9; that doesn't mean, however, that every service provider sent its decision to the FCC. AT&T Wireless filed a report, but boldly concluded it with: "AT&T is not in a position to choose between a handset and network-overlay solution."

Providers that did relate their choices weren't shy about voicing disgruntled opinions or asking for waivers from the FCC's Phase II implementation schedule. Nextel, though, deserves the award for most dramatic performance in an E-911 report.

Based on handset-availability projections from Motorola, Nextel wants to begin selling assisted GPS (A-GPS) handsets in October 2002, one year later than the FCC's starting date. However, Nextel's plan is on par with the FCC's December 2005 deadline for full penetration of location-enabled handsets.

Such a drastic proposal doesn't come without a sweetener. Should the FCC approve the waiver, Nextel will donate $25 million to public safety answering points for the upgrading of their facilities to handle Phase II data.

Another common denominator in the reports is that most service providers didn't feel they really had a choice between network- or handset-based solutions. Cingular Wireless uses GSM and TDMA for its wireless service. Andrew Clegg, Cingular senior manager for strategic technology, found little in the way of location-technology options for those networks.

"On the GSM side, as far as we know, there is no network-based technology that is ready to be tested or deployed, so that kind of forced us into a handset decision," Clegg said. "Then on the TDMA side, because there are network solutions available already, a lot of the handset manufacturers have not pursued integrating any type of location ability into their TDMA handsets, (so) we're pretty much just left with a network-based solution to choose from."

Clegg foresees challenges integrating the different location technologies, but said the immediate concern was simply implementing the Phase II solutions.

For most providers, the Phase II choice was about more than just E-911. Future location-based services were a key factor in the technology choice for Sprint PCS, according to Oliver Valente, Sprint PCS CTO.

"First and foremost, we were interested in being able to provide an increased level of public safety for the consumers," he said. "But a very close second was the ability to leverage this decision with a technology that will allow us to offer location services."

Sprint PCS also plans to integrate 3G and Bluetooth technology into its handset-based GPS solution. Sprint PCS' decision immediately drew ire from privacy groups that fear the location technology will create a wireless Big Brother.

Although location-based services were a consideration for Cingular, the provider holds a grounded view of their potential.

"We will certainly pursue location services so that we can recover some of the costs of deploying this technology, but as far as I have seen, there's no application that is going to create large revenue streams; certainly not large enough to offset the costs of Phase II E-911," Clegg said.

Highlights of selected providers' Phase II implementation reports:

- Alltel: Given its rural and geographically diverse coverage areas, plans to implement an assisted GPS (A-GPS) solution.

- CenturyTel: Chose a network-based solution with much reluctance. Estimates that a network-based Phase II solution will cost nearly $41 per subscriber, or approximately $35 million total.

- Kodiak Wireless: A new provider in Alaska, Kodiak will use a handset-based GPS solution given the topography of its coverage area.

- Dobson Cellular: Will implement a network-based solution but expressed concern that rural providers will not be able to meet Phase II requirements.

- Nextel: Predicts that initial A-GPS phones will cost about 25% more than current handsets and will be about 30% larger as well.

- Qwest Wireless: Related that a hybrid solution may be best, but because ALI-capable handsets are unlikely to be available in time to meet the deadline, tentatively plans to pursue a network-based solution.

- Verizon Wireless: Will implement a network-based solution.

- Western Wireless: Will implement a network-based solution.