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NENA announced the start of the 20 day public review period for NENA’s Interim Solution standard (short name I2) on August 22, 2005. This is NENA’s first major standard on VoIP and E9-1-1 system interface, and is an interim solution for VoIP telecommunications service providers to provide full Enhanced 9-1-1 service through current E9-1-1 infrastructure. The draft standard is available for review and comments through the NENA web site.

This design and standard is a migratory step toward the currently in-progress design of an IP-based Next Generation 9-1-1 service that will flexibly support all types of 9-1-1 calling devices.

• NENA Interim VoIP Architecture for Enhanced 9-1-1 Services (i2) Draft
• NENA press release

The review period will end at 5:00PM on September 19th 2005.

NENA and America Online, Inc issued a joint release April 7 announcing that AOL and NENA will work together to develop a multi-faceted public awareness campaign and AOL has joined the Next Generation E9-1-1 Program, as a member of the Operational/Educational roundtable. AOL’s VoIP service, which is being offered, starting the same day, does include E9-1-1 as a standard feature.

Source.

From America’s Network.

The FCC appears to be standing firm on their Dec 31, 2005 deadline for wireless carriers to implement E911 solutions.

Sprint, Nextel Communications and Verizon Wireless are pursuing handset-based solutions, while Cingular Wireless and T-Mobile USA are pursuing network-based solutions.

According to NENA:

• 71.5% of the 3,135 counties in the US have implemented Phase I
• 33.8% of counties have implemented Phase II
• 73.4% of the 6,166 public safety answering points (PSAPs) have implemented Phase I
• 40.5% of PSAPs have implemented Phase II

There are still issues with getting Tier 3 carriers (mostly rural) to meet the deadline. The biggest obstacle appears to be cost. Several groups of Tier 3 carriers have banded together into the “Tier III Coalition” to lobby for exemption from the FCC requirements.