On February 22, 2013 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Report to Congress in entitled Legal and Regulatory Framework for Next Generation 911 Services, in which the Wireless RERC was cited and referenced throughout the document. In preparation of the report, the FCC issued a Public Notice that sought public comments on the issues related to the legal and regulatory infrastructure needed for the transition from legacy 911 to Next Generation 911 (NG911). The Wireless RERC is referenced in regard to its support of NG911 deployment being governed at the state and local level and for favoring new 911 funding mechanisms, as the current system is thought to be outdated and inefficient for supporting the transition to NG911. In regard to how 911 funds should be collected, the Wireless RERC comment was included that noted the importance of a fee-based approach ensuring that “non-voice-enabled services contribute their fair share to 911 funding.” The Report also included Wireless RERC recommendations on specifically increasing the role and authority of the Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EAAC), expanding the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) grant program to include technologies that advance NG911, and enhancing the Master Public Safety Advisory Point (PSAP) Registry to provide an interactive map showing each PSAP’s NG911 capability.
