Carriers Fined for Not Filing 911 Reliability Certifications

 The FCC Enforcement Bureau Friday reached settlements with seven telecoms that either didn’t file or filed late 911 service reliability certifications last year. Each telecom agreed to pay a civil penalty and abide by a compliance plan to ensure it meets its filing responsibilities going forward. The penalties total $21,600 and range from $4,000 to $2,400 per carrier.

The Commission’s rules require 911 service providers—generally, the wireline phone companies that route both wireline and wireless calls to 911 call centers or provide administrative lines directly to 911 call centers—to take reasonable measures to provide reliable and resilient 911 service. The rules require 911 service providers to certify annually that they have either implemented certain industry-backed best practices or acceptable alternative measures concerning circuit diversity, central office backup power, and network monitoring.

“When you call 911, your call should go through,” said FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Chief Lisa Fowlkes. “The telecommunications providers that route emergency calls are responsible for taking 911 service reliability measures and certifying to the Commission each year that they have done so.” She said the action should remind the industry to take the obligation seriously. Continue Reading