On March 15, 2019, the Commission adopted the Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“FNPRM”) in the Wireless E911 Location Accuracy Requirements proceeding (PS Docket No. 07-114). The FNPRM proposes a vertical, or z-axis, location accuracy metric of plus or minus 3 meters relative to the handset for each of the benchmarks and geographic requirements established in the existing E911 rules.
The adopted FNPRM includes some additional language on various aspects of the z-axis proposal, including privacy, stage testing, deployment, and costs and benefits. The significant inclusions to the adopted item are as follows:
- The Commission seeks comment on whether the 3-meter z-axis metric will provide adequate vertical location accuracy protection for consumers who participate in the Commission’s Lifeline program and how to ensure these protections extend to Lifeline users.
- The Commission asks whether to accelerate or alter the deployment and compliance timelines within the rules, and how the it should address the time frames applicable to non-nationwide CMRS providers.
- The adopted item adds a section, Z-Axis Data Privacy and Security, seeking comment on whether the use of z-axis data should be limited to 911 calls and if a limitation requiring providers to certify they will not use data for any other purpose other than 911 calls should be applied.
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