AT&T and Verizon settle FCC 911 outage investigations
AT & T and Verizon are among the four providers who have agreed to complete the FCC investigation into blackouts that cause failed 911 calls. CenturyLink (now Lumen Technologies) and Intrado will also pay settlements and impose steps to ensure they comply with the 911 agency rule.
Verizon (former Engadget parent company) will pay $ 274,000, the smallest settlement of four, to complete the investigation into a blackout on May 7, 2020. Other investigations are all related to blackouts on September 28, 2020. AT & T will complete two investigations of payment of $ 460,000, While CenturyLink and Intrado each will pay $ 3.8 million and $ 1.75 million.
In addition to failing 911 calls, the FCC said investigations became AT & T, CenturyLink and Intrado concerned whether the company gave 911 call centers about blackouts. The second AT & T investigation is related to whether the provider breaks the FCC rules by failing to provide number and location information during blackouts.
“The most important phone call you have ever made may be a 911 call,” said FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement. “Bright day blackouts can be very troubled because they occur when the public and 911 call centers least expect it. It is very important that telephone companies prevent this blackout wherever and provide fast and sufficient notice to 911 call centers when they really occur.”
Pale settlement compared to $ 19.5 million T-Mobile agreed to pay to complete an investigation into a 12-hour blackout in June 2020. However, they must at least function as FCC reminders do not affect 911 calls with light.
