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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: APCO
Courtney McCarron
202.833.9600
mccarronc@apco911.org
APCO SUPPORTS CHAIRMAN MARTIN'S CALL FOR TIGHTER WIRELESS ACCURACY REQUIREMENTS
April 6, 2007, Washington, D.C. -
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today released a statement supporting Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin Martin's call to tighten requirements on how location accuracy from wireless phones is measured.
"We are pleased to hear that Chairman Martin is committed to working with the public safety community and the wireless service providers to ensure that people in crisis can be located and helped as quickly and efficiently as possible," APCO International President Wanda McCarley said.
Chairman Martin's comments come as APCO International is about to release a report on its Project LOCATE's (Locate Our Citizens in Times of Emergencies) testing of the accuracy received by public safety answering points (PSAPs) from 9-1-1 calls made from wireless phones.
APCO International conducted the study to help its members, and the public safety community as a whole, understand the issue of location accuracy in wireless telephone 9-1-1 calls because it is very difficult for each local municipality to study their own wireless caller location accuracy. The study provides a snapshot of the kind of location information call takers get when they receive a call for help and highlights how the public safety community and the wireless service providers can work together to improve the quality of this location information so that the public safety community can effectively respond to the 9-1-1 calls made via wireless telephones.
APCO International representatives will be available for interviews to discuss the report further on Monday, April 9. For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Courtney McCarron at mccarronc@apco911.org or 202.833.9600.
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