PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 15-161 Release Date: February 4, 2015 PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF PSAP TEXT-TO-911 READINESS AND CERTIFICATION REGISTRY PS Docket Nos. 10-255 and 11-153 By this Public Notice, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) announces the availability of the Commission’s Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Text-to-911 Readiness and Certification Registry (Text-to-911 Registry) listing PSAPs that are ready to receive text-to-911 messages, and providing notice to Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) providers and other providers of interconnected text messaging services (collectively, “covered text providers”) of the notice date of PSAP readiness. 1 The Text-to-911 Registry lists each PSAP by FCC PSAP ID and name, the county of operation, the primary point of contact for coordinating text-to-911 service, the method by which the PSAP will accept texts, and the state or local governing entity authorizing the PSAP to accept texts. 2 The Text-to-911 Registry is available for inspection on the following Commission web page at http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/psap-text-911-readiness-and-certification. The notice date of PSAP readiness to receive text-to-911 messages is as follows: (1) December 31, 2014 – for PSAPs that began accepting texts prior to December 31, 2014 and that were listed on the Bureau’s most recent public Text-to-911 Deployment Report, November 12, 2014. 3 These PSAPs are presumed to be “text-ready” and have been automatically registered in the database, unless they have informed the Bureau otherwise. (2) December 31, 2014 – for PSAPs that were ready to receive texts to 911 as of December 31, 2014 but were not listed on the Bureau’s November 12, 20145 Text-to-911 Deployment Report. 1 PSAPs may also provide other written notification reasonably acceptable to a covered text messaging provider. See Facilitating the Deployment of Text-to-911 and Other Next Generation 911 Applications, Framework for Next Generation 911 Deployment, PS Docket Nos. 11-153 and 10-255, Second Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 29 FCC Rcd 9846, 9872-73 ¶ 52, 9873-74 ¶ 56 (Second Text-to-911 Order) (2014). 2 See Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Availability of PSAP Text-to-911 Certification and Readiness Form, Public Notice, DA 14-1905, rel. Dec. 30, 2014 (PSHSB December 30, 2014 Public Notice) (providing certification and registration instructions (and the Readiness Form) for PSAPs that seek to request delivery of text-to-911 service from covered text providers). 3 See FCC, Text to 911 Deployments as of November 12, 2014, available at http://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/911/Text_911_Deployments.pdf (last visited Dec. 30, 2014). 2(3) The date of this Public Notice – for PSAPs that have filed Registration Forms after December 31, 2014 through February 4, 2015. Pursuant to the Commission text-to-911 rules, 4 and based on the above effective dates, covered text providers must begin routing 911 text messages to requesting PSAPs by June 30, 2015, or within six months of a valid PSAP request, whichever is later. 5 The Commission will regularly update the Text-to- 911 Registry. To constitute a “valid PSAP request,” (1) the PSAP must certify that it is technically ready to receive 911 text messages in the format requested; (2) the appropriate local or State 911 service governing authority must have authorized the PSAP to accept and, by extension, the covered text provider to provide, text-to-911 service; and (3) the requesting PSAP must notify the covered text provider that it is both technically ready to receive 911 text messages and has been authorized to accept such messages. 6 Covered text providers should periodically review the text-readiness of PSAPs in their service areas and reach out to these PSAPs as necessary to coordinate implementation of text-to-911 service. To the extent possible, the Bureau encourages PSAPs and covered text providers to follow the processes recommended by CSRIC in its recent report outlining best practices and guidelines for PSAPs making requests for text-to-911 service. 7 Further, the Commission has stated that, “[w]hile registration in the database is one way by which PSAPs may trigger text-to-911obligations by covered text providers . . . .[,] [t]he obligations of covered text providers may also be triggered by any other written notification to them by PSAPs.” 8 The Commission has also expressed that “[n]ot registering in the database will not preclude PSAPs from being able to obtain text-to-911 service. That is, covered text providers still must provide text-to-911 service within six months of receiving a valid PSAP request, irrespective of whether a PSAP has registered as ‘text-ready’ with the Commission.” 9 Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This document does not contain new or modified information collection requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13. Therefore it does not contain any new or modified “information burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees” pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107- 198. On October 27, 2014, the reporting requirements addressed by this Public Notice were approved as an emergency collection under OMB Control No. 3060-1204. For further information regarding this proceeding, contact Tim May, Policy and Licensing Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at (202) 418-1463 or timothy.may@fcc.gov. 4 See Second Text-to-911 Order, 29 FCC Rcd 9846; 47 C.F.R. § 20.18(n). The Second Text-to-911 Order established an initial deadline of December 31, 2014 for all covered text providers to be capable of supporting text- to-911 service. See 47 C.F.R. § 20.18(n)(10)(i). 5 See 47 C.F.R. § 20.18(n)(10)(ii) (also providing that an alternate timeframe may be “agreed to by both the PSAP and the covered text provider. The covered text provider must notify the Commission of the dates and terms of the alternate timeframe within 30 days of the parties' agreement.”). 6 47 CFR § 20.18(n)(10)(iii). PSAPs may also provide other written notification reasonably acceptable to a covered text messaging provider. See Second Text-to-911 Order, 29 FCC Rcd at 9872-73 ¶ 52, 9873-74 ¶ 56. 7 See CSRIC PSAP Best Practices Report. CSRIC’s report includes information on operational considerations for implementing SMS text-to-911, including information on the three available delivery methods for interim SMS text- to-911. See Second Text-to-911 Order, 29 FCC Rcd at 9873 n.160. 8 Second Text to 911 Order, 29 FCC Rcd at 9873-74 ¶ 56. 9 Id.