Sending a cellular SOS - AT&T Wireless Services and SCC Communications introduce 911 Connect, a wireless-911 program for public safety agencies - Company Business and Marketing

Not long ago, a trial of wireles location technology conclude successfully in the state of New Jersey. The 100-day test demonstrated that emergency calls placed through wireless networks to 9*1*1 centers could be located to within the 125 meters (410 feet) stipulated by the Federal Communications Commission in its Docket 94-102.

That's good news for the increasing number of cellular telephone users traveling the nation's highways, but another obstacle looms just as large for this new technology. Who will pay for deployment and maintenance of wireless 9*1*1?

XYPOINT, a Seattle-based provider of wireless intelligent network services, keeps public policy information at its web site, http://www.xypoint.com. The company reports that 10 state legislatures have enacted laws creating funding for wireless 9*1*1, joining 10 other states previously enacting surcharges or having some other cost recovery mechanism in place. Another 14 states introduced similar legislation this year.

Only time will tell, but the legislative activity suggests that ultimately, wireless 9*1*1 may receive the same funding support enjoyed by wireline 9*1*1 in counties and townships across the country.

Responding to these developments, AT&T Wireless Services (AWS) and SCC Communications Corp are teaming to offer wireless 9*1*1 capability to public safety agencies serving more than 7.3 million AWS subscribers. The service is marketed under the name 9*1*1 Connect.

Meanwhile, companies like Plant Equipment, Proctor and Associates, CML Technologies, and The Associated Group continue to develop wireless products and services in support of the FCC docket.

UPDATING THE LOCAL LOOP

As competition heats up among service providers aiming at the local loop, Largo, Fla.-based Tadiran Telecommunications announced the availability of MultiGain Wireless (MGW), which they say is the first wireless local loop system delivering POTS-level basic and enhanced voice and data services without attendant copper or fiber-optic connection maintenance.

The company reports the system can be deployed throughout a neighborhood in just a few days. The system's cost is dependent on population density and distribution.

"In areas throughout the United States where the existing feeder or distribution cables are fully loaded, or where the repair of existing cable faults is impractical, MGW is a perfect communications solution," says Mark Vida, vice president and general manager.

Based on spread spectrum frequency-hopping digital radio technology, MGW offers connectivity to all local switched services, according to the company. Vida says the system avoids call interference by constantly switching frequencies within its operating band, the unlicensed ISM frequencies. MGW is operational in other countries. Field trials have been completed with US West and other customers.

A $10 BILLION GAMBLE

Seven wireless phone companies will jointly market digital wireless telephone service throughout the United States and Canada under the brand name of the GSM Alliance. GSM stands for the Global System for Mobile communications, a digital transmission standard.

Members of the Alliance are smaller wireless service providers who aim to offer digital technology and uniform rates to their clients, competing against AT&T, Sprint Corp. and GTE. With apparently the same intent, several Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) have also formed a partnership called PrimeCo Personal Communications to offer similar services. It's a crowded field, but the stakes are high.

This initial skirmish sets the scene for the deployment of an advanced digital service called Personal Communication Services (PCS). The PCS standard designates six 15 MHz bands, called major trading areas (MTA) and six 5 MHz bands, called basic trading areas (BTA).

PCS is a full-duplex system with a 20 MHz band gap allocated to unlicensed operators for voice and data communications carried at 10 MHz each. It operates between 1,850 MHz and 1,990 MHz in the spectrum.

The FCC auction of PCS lease rights drew $10 billion from bidders. With advanced technology in place, PCS providers are now challenged with stimulating consumer interest and finding differentiators between PCS and other wireless services.

States with wireless location funding

State           Funding Strategy

Arizona         10 cents +
Arkansas        50 cents
California      .72% of monthly wireless bill
Louisiana       70 cents
Maine           20 cents
Maryland        60 cents
Minnesota       10 cents to 32 cents
Montana         25 cents
New Hampshire   to be determined
New York        70 cents +
Oregon          75 cents
Rhode Island    47 cents
Texas           50 cents
Utah            50 cents
Vermont         funded through state appropriation
Virginia        funded through state general taxes
Washington      25 cents
West Virginia   75 cents

COPYRIGHT 1997 Nelson Publishing
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group