Fergie's Tech Blog

GAO: Wireless E-911 May Never Become Nationwide

Heather Forsgren Weaver writes on RCR WIreless News:

Congressional auditors said Friday that improvement was being made with the deployment of wireless enhanced 911 services, but that some states could take five more years and others may not ever fully implement the location and emergency location service.

GAO surveyed 911 officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia—44 responded. The study was prompted by the E-911 Act of 2004; that law created a grant program for states to deploy wireless E-911 service. Grants would be withheld from states that use money from 911 taxes collected from wireless customers to solve budget problems. The recently passed budget bill allowed for auction proceeds from the sale of digital TV spectrum to be used for E-911 grants but that money won’t be available until at least 2008. No other money has been budgeted for federal 911 help.

posted by Fergie @ 3/13/2006 12:21:00 PM