Commission Document

• Print
• Email

PUBLIC NOTICE

Federal Communications Commission

News Media Information 202 / 418-0500

445 12th St., S.W.

Internet: http://www.fcc.gov

Washington, D.C. 20554

TTY: 1-888-835-5322

DA 13-22

Released: January 9, 2013

PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU ANNOUNCES COMMENT AND

REPLY COMMENT DATES FOR THE FURTHER NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING

IN THE NEXT GENERATION 911 PROCEEDING

PS Docket No. 11-153, PS Docket No. 10-255

Section III.A Comments Due: January 29, 2013
Section III.A Reply Comments Due: February 8, 2013
All Other Section Comments Due: March 11, 2013
All Other Section Reply Comments Due: April 9, 2013

On December 12, 2012, the Federal Communications Commission adopted a Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking to facilitate the deployment of Text-to-911 and other Next Generation 911
applications (Text-to-911 FNPRM).1 The Text-to-911 FNPRM proposed to require all wireless carriers
and certain “over the top” providers of interconnected text messaging services to support the ability of
consumers to send text messages to 911. In addition, in order to inform consumers and prevent
confusion, the Text-to-911 FNPRM proposed to require all wireless carriers and interconnected text
message providers to send automated “bounce back” error messages to consumers attempting to text to
911 when the service is not available.
Section III.A of the Text-to-911 FNPRM proposed that when consumers attempt to text to 911 in
areas where text-to-911 is not supported, or in other instances where the text cannot be transmitted to the
911 call center, they will receive an automated message saying that text-to-911 is not supported and
directing them to make a 911 voice call. The Text-to-911 FNPRM sought comment on the appropriate
timetable for implementing this bounce back capability, and recommended rapid implementation to avoid
the risk of consumer confusion. Due to the important public safety consideration of reducing consumer
confusion, the Text-to-911 FNPRM sought an expedited comment schedule for Section III.A.
Accordingly, the Text-to-911 FNPRM set deadlines for filing comments and reply comments in Section
III.A at 20 and 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. The Text-to-911 FNPRM set deadlines
for filing comments and reply comments in all other sections of the Text-to-911 FNPRM at 60 and 90
days after publication in the Federal Register.

1 In the Matter of Facilitating the Deployment of Text-to-911 and Other Next Generation 911 Applications;
Framework for Next Generation 911 Deployment, PS Docket No. 11-153, PS Docket No. 10-255, Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 11-134, 26 FCC Rcd 13615 (rel. Dec. 12, 2012) (Text-to-911 FNPRM).

---

On January 9, 2013, the Federal Register published a summary of the Text-to-911 FNPRM.2
Accordingly, comments in Section III.A must be filed on or before January 29, 2013; and reply comments
must be filed on or before February 8, 2013. Comments on all other sections must be filed on or before
March 11, 2013; and reply comments on other sections must be filed on or before April 9, 2013. The
Text-to-911 FNPRM sets forth the comment filing instructions.
For further information regarding this proceeding, contact Timothy May, Policy Division, Public
Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, (202) 418-1463.

--FCC--

2 See 78 Fed. Reg. 1799 (Jan. 9, 2013).

---