The Federal Communications Commission Thursday decided that mobile satellite service (MSS) carriers that provide interconnected voice service must establish call centers for the purpose of answering 911 emergency calls and forwarding such calls to an appropriate public safety answering point (PSAP). The FCC also directed the Network Reliability and Interoperability Council (NRIC) to study several technical issues associated with enhanced 911 implementation for satellite systems.

In addition, the FCC is seeking public comment on two subjects pertaining to MSS. First, the FCC is asking whether transition periods are necessary for MSS providers with an ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) to comply with the terrestrial wireless enhanced 911 (E911) requirements. Second, the FCC seeks comment on proposed reporting and recordkeeping requirements in connection with implementation of the emergency call center rule.

For more coverage of the commission meeting, including updates on implementation of the WRC spectrum agreement and the Spectrum Policy Task Force, see the Nov. 17 issue of SATELLITE NEWS. For more info on subscribing to PBI Media’s satellite publications, check out our Web site at https://www.satellitetoday.com