The Federal Communications Commission’s Enforcement Bureau today announced settlements with seven smaller telecommunications providers that did not file timely 911 service reliability certifications last year. Each provider agreed to pay a civil penalty and abide by a compliance plan to ensure it meets its filing responsibilities going forward.
The penalties of $21,600 range from $2,400 to $4,000 per company.
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. To that end, the rules require 911 service providers to certify annually that they have either implemented certain industry-backed best practices or acceptable alternative measures with respect to circuit diversity, central office backup power, and network monitoring.
“When you call 911, your call should go through,” said Lisa M. Fowlkes, Chief of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. “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. Today’s action should remind industry to take this obligation seriously.”
The Enforcement Bureau entered into Consent Decrees with the following companies, which will each implement a compliance plan and pay a fine:
Alteva of Warwick, LLC $3,200
Arkwest Communications, Inc. $2,400
Cass Telephone Company $3,200
ComSouth Telecommunications, Inc. $4,000
Dumont Telephone Company $2,400
Geneseo Telephone Company $2,400
Union Telephone Company $4,000