Martin ready to require VoIP 911 

By Donny Jackson

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin Tuesday said he plans to propose that voice-over-IP (VoIP) providers be required to provide emergency-calling services through the traditional 911 systems...

Powerful senator pushes aide for FCC slot 

By Donny Jackson

Jockeying for an open position on the Federal Communications Commission took another twist this week as Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) reportedly has recommended that one of his aides, Christine Kurth, be nominated for a position on the commission...

FCC delays meeting 

The Federal Communications Commission yesterday announced it will conduct its next meeting on Friday, a day later than scheduled...

IWCE: Transition Administrator establishes rebanding “to-do” list 

By Donny Jackson

LAS VEGAS--Members of the Transition Administrator (TA) team this week answered some questions about licensees’ responsibilities during the 800 MHz rebanding process while promising more detail in the near future....

IWCE: Mesa shares P25 lessons learned  

By Doug Mohney

LAS VEGAS--The City of Mesa, Ariz., is in the process of completing a transition over to Project 25, joining with neighboring Phoenix on a multi-year project initiated in 1996 to build a regional interoperable P25 network. A representative from the city shared their experiences in acquiring and deploying the technology over a nine-year period during the Project 25 Symposium at the 2005 IWCE conference and sponsored by the Project (25) Technology Interest Group...

APCO opposes NRIC report on wireless E-911 

The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officers (APCO) this week voted in opposition to the National Reliability and Interoperability Council (NRIC) VII focus group’s recommendations to the FCC regarding wireless E-911...

FCC seeks comment on public-safety spectrum 

The FCC this week announced it is seeking comments on the short-term and long-term spectral needs for emergency response providers...

First Response Coalition decries $100 billion funding gap 

By Donny Jackson

A relaunched First Response Coalition yesterday released a report claiming that police, fire and emergency medical services will be underfunded by about $100 billion through 2008...

Texas AG files 911 suit against Vonage 

By Donny Jackson

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott yesterday filed a lawsuit against Vonage, claiming the leading voice-over-IP provider deceives customers by failing to communicate that its voice service does not include access to the E-911 system associated with traditional telephone service...

Level 3 withdraws VoIP petition 

By Donny Jackson

Telecom carrier Level 3, which connects calls from VoIP providers such as Vonage to the PSTN, on Monday withdrew its forbearance petition that asked the FCC to rule that VoIP calls are not subject to interstate or intrastate access charges...

Kevin Martin named FCC Chairman 

President Bush has named current FCC Commissioner Kevin Martin to chairman, replacing Michael Powell, who resigned effective March 31. Because the Senate previously confirmed Martin when he became a commissioner, Senate confirmation is not required for him to elevate to the chairmanship....

Powell lands at Aspen Institute—for three months 

Outgoing FCC Chairman Michael Powell will become a senior fellow of the Aspen Institute Communications and Society Program for three months after he leaves the FCC on March 31, the Aspen Institute has announced....

Families of 9-11 deceased firefighters seek court appeal 

Families of nine FDNY firefighters who died on Sept. 11, 2001, have asked the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals to review last year’s decision by a district court judge to dismiss their case against Motorola and city of New York....

FCC approves wireless items in Powell’s final meeting 

By Donny Jackson

In FCC Chairman Michael Powell’s final open meeting, the commission approved several items affecting wireless communications, including one that a dissenting commissioner claimed could impact some 911 funding mechanisms for PSAPs....

FCC wireless bureau chief resigns 

John Muleta, chief of the wireless telecommunications bureau at the FCC, will leave the commission at the end of March, according to an FCC announcement released this morning....