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Sprint Leads Industry in E911 Implementation
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Continuing its role as the industry leader in E911 Phase II implementation,
the entire Sprint (NYSE: FON, PCS) nationwide PCS network is now Phase II compatible. This is a major step forward in preparing to deliver precise
GPS location information required by the FCC for 911 calls.
Sprint was the first and only wireless carrier to meet the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) deadline of selling a GPS-enabled handset by
October 1, 2001, and now Sprint is the first carrier ready to deliver E911 Phase II anywhere across its nationwide PCS network.
"We're proud to be leading the way in introducing this valuable, life-saving technology," said Len J. Lauer, president, Sprint's wireless division.
"It is important to emphasize, however, that Sprint's network readiness is just part of the equation," Lauer noted. "We continue to work with Public
Safety Answering Points, local telephone companies and other organizations to deliver the service."
In order for E911 Phase II service to be implemented in a community, several steps must be taken. Each local telephone company must also be able to
receive the information and transmit it to the 911 call takers or Public Safety Answering Points ("PSAPs"). The equipment used by these PSAPs must
also be updated to be capable of receiving and processing location information.
Since the end of 2001, Sprint has introduced Phase II E911 service in three markets, Rhode Island; St. Clair County, Illinois; and Lake County, Indiana.
Sprint is close to delivering Phase II in Delaware County, Pennsylvania; Greater Harris County, Texas; and Johnston County, North Carolina.
The FCC Phase II Mandate requires all wireless carriers, within six months of a request from a public safety answering point, be able to locate 67
percent of 911 callers within 50 meters using a "handset solution" or 100 meters using a "network solution." Sprint has chosen the more precise
handset-based GPS solution to fulfill the requirements.
Sprint has sold more than one million GPS-enabled handsets since October 2001. The GPS-enabled phones are designed to enable E911 capabilities, as
they become available. All PCS Vision phones now being offered by Sprint are GPS-enabled. The handsets can dial non-GPS enabled 911 today, but
the GPS-enabled E911 functionality is currently available only in the three markets where the local telephone company and PSAPs have upgraded
their equipment with Phase II capability.
The GPS-enabled phones also will be capable of delivering location-based services to customers on an opt-in basis. Sprint has not announced its
plans in the area of location-based services, but is exploring possibilities.
"Our customer base is mobile, so offering location-based services makes sense," said Lauer. "But we're studying the opportunities with an eye
toward delivering valuable opt-in information that our customers want."
About Sprint
Sprint is a global communications company serving more than 26 million business and residential customers in over 70 countries. With approximately
75,000 employees worldwide and more than $26 billion in annual revenues, Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying
state-of-the-art network technologies, including the United States' first nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic network and Sprint's award-winning Tier 1
Internet backbone. Sprint provides local voice and data services in 18 states and operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless
network in the United States.
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