Wireless E911 Package Assists Emergency Dispatch Centers in Deployment of Life-Saving Location Technology "ATIS' ESIF Releases "Wireless E911 Phase II Readiness Package" February 3, 2003, Washington, D.C. - In an effort to assist with the establishment of the service that allows 911 dispatch centers to pinpoint a wireless caller's location, ATIS' Emergency Services Interconnection Forum (ESIF) today released its "Wireless E911 Phase II Readiness Package." Wireless E911 Phase II allows 911 calltakers, or Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), to receive both the caller's wireless phone number and their location information. Before wireless E911 Phase II is implemented in an area, a PSAP must demonstrate to a wireless carrier that it is ready to receive wireless E911 calls. The ESIF Readiness Package is a standard evaluation method for PSAPs to determine and document their status for wireless carriers from whom they request Phase II implementation. The Readiness Package is available here. "ATIS' ESIF developed the Wireless E911 Phase II Readiness Package in order to assist PSAPs in accelerating deployment of this life-saving location technology," said Susan M. Miller, president and CEO of ATIS. "It is consistent with the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) requirements for Phase II deployment, and PSAPs should feel confident when utilizing ESIF's Readiness Package." By completing the checklist included in the Phase II Readiness Package, PSAPs document their readiness, and are then able to determine the necessary next steps in deploying wireless E911 service. The FCC requires that a wireless carrier must implement E911 within the six-month period following the date of the PSAP's valid request. "The ESIF is confident that the Readiness Package will provide common points of reference for the public safety and wireless communities to maximize efforts and eliminate implementation roadblocks in deploying wireless E911,"said Jim Nixon, Director of Government Affairs for T-Mobile, and ESIF Chair. "We are pleased with the timely response of the ESIF in preparing the Readiness Package," said Jim Goerke, Wireless Implementation Director for the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). "This is a tool that defines wireless E911 readiness for PSAPs, and helps to facilitate this extremely important public safety service for wireless callers." The Wireless E-911 Readiness Package was produced by the ESIF, an effort jointly convened by ATIS and NENA to facilitate the identification and resolution of technical issues related to the interconnection of telephony and emergency services networks. Partners to the development of the Readiness Package include representatives of wireless carriers, 911 service system providers, and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO). About ATIS -30-
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