WASHINGTON-In a March 29 draft letter to Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), who introduced legislation March 28 that would require the Federal Communications Commission to mandate access to 911 services by all commercial mobile services carriers, Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association President Tom Wheeler told the congresswoman that she had been “perhaps … misinformed on some key matters.”
Eshoo, who serves on the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance, crafted her bill in response to reports that 911 calls made by roaming cellular subscribers are being blocked by local cellular carriers.
Eshoo’s bill, in part, directs the FCC to “by regulation, prohibit providers of commercial mobile services from blocking access to emergency 911 services, as necessary in the public interest.”
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“Our intent is to have a common name in all markets. For example, the Visa brand name is known nationwide, but the (credit cards) are sold by different banks.”
-Jim Gerace, executive director of public relations for
Bell Atlantic Nynex Mobile
