FCC To Examine Ways To Improve 911 Call Routing

The Federal Communications Commission began an examination of how to more quickly route wireless 911 calls to the proper 911 call center, which could result in faster response times during emergencies. In a Notice of Inquiry, the FCC seeks comment on the extent of “misrouted” wireless 911 calls and approaches to avoid such delays, including the feasibility of routing 911 calls based on the location of the caller as opposed to the location of the cell tower that handles that call. The FCC noted that recent technological advances suggest that in many situations it is now possible to route 911 calls to the correct call center based on information about the caller’s location. Among other questions, the Notice of Inquiry invites comment on how the FCC can facilitate and promote location-based routing improvements.