FCC Order Providing 911 Certification Flexibility Takes Effect Nov. 6

An FCC order giving 911 providers more certification leeway will take effect Nov. 6 after the Federal Register published the commission's final rule Wednesday. The FCC issued the order July 30 giving 911 service providers flexibility to comply with certification rules intended to ensure emergency communications reliability, provided they explain how they are still reducing the risk of network failure (see 1507310010). The order responded to a request from Intrado that the commission clarify or partially reconsider a 2013 decision requiring 911 communications providers to certify annually they're taking reasonable measures to provide reliable service through "911 circuit diversity, central office backup power, and diverse network monitoring."