RD216 - Wireless E–911 Services Board FY2007 Annual Report


Executive Summary:
The Code of Virginia (§56-484.14) requires the Wireless E-911 Services Board (the Board) to report annually to the Governor, the Senate Committee on Finance, the House Committee on Appropriations, and the Virginia State Crime Commission on the following:

(i) the state of enhanced 9-1-1 services in the Commonwealth,

(ii) the impact of, or need for, legislation affecting enhanced 9-1-1 services in the Commonwealth,

(iii) the need for changes in the E-911 funding mechanism provided to the Board, as appropriate, and

(iv) monitor developments in enhanced 9-1-1 service and multi-line telephone systems and the impact of such technologies upon the implementation of Article 8 (§ 56-484.19 et seq.) of Chapter 15 of Title 56.

The state of enhanced 9-1-1 services in the Commonwealth:

Though the original goal was to have all localities providing wireline E-911 service by July 1, 2003, there are still five (5) localities working to deploy this level of service. Four of the five are currently being delayed by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). These delays, which have been significant, have added additional time and complexity to these projects. The localities have done all they can and are at the mercy of the USPS to complete their work. As a result, the Board has granted extensions of time to all six, as allowed by Code.

Wireless enhanced 9-1-1 (E-911) Phase I service, where the caller’s telephone number and the address of the cell site are provided to the public safety answering point (PSAP), is essentially complete, with well over 99% of all wireless subscribers now being provided the service. The few localities that are not completed are among the most rural Virginia localities and are aggressively working toward deployment. These are the same localities still working to deploy wireline E-911.

The deployment of wireless E-911 Phase II, which provides the PSAP with the caller’s actual location by longitude and latitude, is nearing completion, due to the hard work and dedication of the PSAPs and telecommunications service providers. Phase II service is now available to 99% (up from 97% in FY2006) of wireless telephone service subscribers in the Commonwealth. The wireless service providers and all of the localities involved should be commended for their efforts to protect the public. While Phase II is not 100% accurate, the locations provided are typically within 50 to 300 meters, with some calls actually showing the caller’s location within a matter of a few feet. It is not the same level of accuracy as wireline E-911, but it does provide the 9-1-1 call taker with a valuable tool to quickly locate a caller in need of emergency assistance, especially if the caller is unfamiliar with their location.

With the deployment of Phase II many of the wireless service providers opted for a handset-based Phase II solution, which uses a global positioning system (GPS) chip in the telephone to locate the caller. Though this requires the subscriber to upgrade their telephone, most of the major carriers using this technology are now reporting that over 95% of their customers have GPS equipped telephones, which was the goal established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

As the Commonwealth approaches completion of the deployment of enhanced 9-1-1 services on all traditional telecommunications services, the focus of the E-911 industry shifts to the future of E-911 and service improvement. Several new technologies already exist that challenge the current E-911 infrastructure such as VoIP and text messaging. The localities, telecommunications service providers and E-911 vendors should be commended for all of the effort expended thus far to provide the citizens with the best E-911 system available, but it is critical that work continue to ensure this life saving service is available when it is needed most.

The impact of, or need for, legislation affecting enhanced wireless emergency telecommunications services in the Commonwealth:

The Wireless E-911 Services Board is not recommending any legislative changes for the 2008 General Assembly Session. The changes made in 2006 to the funding process appear to be working well. Additionally, the Board continues to work on the planning for the future of E-911, which was another change made in the 2006 session.

The need for changes in the E-911 funding mechanism provided to the Board, as appropriate:

The Wireless E-911 Fund remains fiscally sound. With the legislative changes made in 2006, the funding process has been substantially changed. The revised process, which utilizes a formula-based distribution methodology, appears to provide consistent funding to the localities while greatly reducing the administrative bureaucracy associated with applying for the funding. Additionally, two cycles have been completed for the PSAP grant program also added in 2006. This has resulted in over $7 million being provided to the localities for the replacement of outdated equipment and to expand services to the citizens of the Commonwealth.

It should be noted that the Appropriations Act for 2006-2008 continues the transfer of $3.7 million from the Wireless E-911 Fund to the Virginia State Police. However, by the end of FY2004, almost all local PSAPs were taking the wireless E-911 calls directly, thus removing the original justification for providing the funding to the State Police. Continuing the appropriation to the State Police after they are no longer taking the wireless 9-1-1 calls could jeopardize the eligibility of the Commonwealth and all of the localities for federal E-911 grant funding. While there is no federal appropriation to support this grant program yet, federal legislation passed in early 2006 earmarks $42 million from a radio spectrum auction for the program in the 2008 federal budget. If this transfer were to cease, the amount of funding provided to the localities would increase proportionally.

Monitor developments in enhanced 9-1-1 service and multi-line telephone systems:

This is a new duty of the Board that was enacted on July 1, 2007. Since most of the provisions of Article 8 (§ 56-484.19 et seq.) of Chapter 15 of Title 56 do not take effect until July 1, 2009, the Board will provide more information on this topic in its future annual reports.