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| Excuses, excuses, excuses... will they ever learn to fix the basic stuff so
that it works.
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Wireless 911 Gets Low Marks
Even as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has demanded that Voice
over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers link to 911 emergency
systems this summer, tests of wireless 911 systems in several cities still
yield less-than-acceptable results, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The FCC mandated wireless 911 service 10 years ago.
Tests in Chicago and New York City and its suburbs still show wireless calls
lack the necessary latitude and longitude information to pinpoint the
location of the caller. Verizon Wireless has reported that its own tests in
New York City fell short of FCC requirements. Wireless companies and public
safety agencies at the FCC concede that in cities, terrain, buildings, and
radio interference can cause location problems. In rural areas, the distance
between wireless transmission towers affects precise triangulation.
While VoIP providers endorse calls for 911 connectivity, some have said the
FCC's demand for compliance in 120 days is unreasonable given the current
state of technology. While committed to developing a solution, many experts
have pointed to the technical problems wireless 911 continues to have as
indicative of the challenge ahead.
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