U.S. moves to fine wireless carriers over 911 service
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U.S. regulators said on Thursday  they had proposed penalizing three wireless carriers which the  government says failed to meet new stricter standards for being  able to locate cellular telephone callers in an emergency.
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Nearly 8 million mobile phone users have switched carriers and kept their cell numbers since a new rule allowing that flexibility went into effect one year ago, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
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The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday kicked off efforts that could reshape the communications services available to airline passengers.
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U.S. regulators said on Thursday they had proposed penalizing three wireless carriers which the government says failed to meet new stricter standards for being able to locate cellular telephone callers in an emergency.
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Company's looking at ways to offer wireless phone service, executives say. The move is targeted at the Baby Bells.
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NEW YORK - You could almost hear the sighs of relief when the US Federal Communications Commission ruled on Tuesday that Internet-based phone services should be regulated by the federal government, not by the states.
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New rules easing requirements that  the big four U.S. local telephone carriers lease their networks  to competitors at government-set rates, were narrowly approved  by U.S. communications regulators on Wednesday.
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The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has proposed fines totaling US$2.8 million to three wireless carriers for failing to meet coverage requirements for an emergency dialing service called E911, the agency said Thursday.
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AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and Sprint Nextel, look out! European companies with unfamiliar names to many Americans, now offer much cheaper and more convenient GSM cellular services to US residents traveling abroad.
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Internet telephone services on  Tuesday were insulated from many state regulations by U.S.  communications officials, a boon for upstart Vonage Holdings  Corp. and others aggressively pushing the new service.
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Carriers work to restore service and are providing free calls to people affected.
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Regulators said on Thursday they had  proposed penalizing three wireless carriers which the  government says failed to meet new stricter standards for being  able to locate cellular telephone callers in an emergency.
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Some area wireless customers may soon experience clearer service farther away from town, as well as new equipment options, now that a landmark merger has been completed.
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The number of U.S. wireless  subscribers who are switching providers while keeping their  telephone numbers is accelerating, the Federal Communications  Commission said on Friday.
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(InfoWorld) - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has adopted new rules requiring wireless telephone providers to move toward testing location-based emergency dialing service at the local level. The FCC late Tuesday opposed regulations that require wireless providers to phase in testing of enhanced 911, or E911, dialing services over the next five years. E911 allows emergency dispatchers to pinpoint the location of callers. Until now, wireless providers have been able to test and report the E911 location accuracy on a regional or statewide basis. But the new rules would require wireless carriers to provide the FCC with local accuracy information. The old way of testing "does not provide public safety with the information it needs to do its job effectively," said FCC chairman Kevin Martin. "Meeting location accuracy standards on average in the entire state of New York by providing enhanced 911 capability in Manhattan does not help first-responders in Buffalo." In many cases, E911 does not work well with wireless phones, critics have said. In some cases, callers can't be pinpointed closer than several hundred meters, or on the right floor of a high-rise building, critics say. FCC commissioner Robert McDowell said the FCC may be moving ahead too fast. In May, several wireless providers, tech vendors, and public safety advocatesÂ told the FCC they don't yet have a plan for better wireless E911, he said. "We must walk before we can run," McDowell added. CTIA, a wireless trade group, criticized the FCC's action. The wireless industry has is committed to improving location accuracy and the FCC's action will "hamper that effort," Steve Largent, CTIA's president and CEO, said in a statement. "I am concerned that the commission's action may lead to unrealistic -- and potentially harmful -- consumer expectations." CTIA wanted the FCC to move forward with a collaborative effort involving the wireless industry and public safety officials, Largent added. However, the National Emergency Number Association praised the commission's decision, calling the new rules a step toward improved safety. It is "essential" that the accuracy of E911 be improved, said NENA president Jason Barbour, 911 director for Johnston County, N.C.
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New service sends color maps and directions to cell phone users.
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US regulators will let utility companies send high-speed Internet signals through electrical outlets to residential and business clients.