FCC's Approved Wireless Location Accuracy Notice Raises Privacy Issues
In a unanimous vote, FCC commissioners approved Thursday a Further NPRM about improving wireless location accuracy for 911 calls. The draft FNPRM raises privacy issues.
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In 2015, the FCC pivoted when it required that providers supply dispatchable location information, when possible (see 1501290066). The draft FNPRM acknowledged that the number of calls delivered with dispatchable-location data remains “very small.” This is the FCC’s sixth FNPRM on the topic.
The draft FNPRM proposed several privacy-related questions. “How should we engage cable companies, ISPs, OEMs, and vendors in finding solutions to providing validated street address and floor level information for wireless 911 calls?” the draft asks: “Do these parties have concerns over authentication protocols, privacy, and security that would need to be addressed?”
“With this item, the commission builds on our prior work on location accuracy to ensure that first responders receive not just accurate information, but actionable information,” said FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.