The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has made several adjustments to its wireless enhanced 911 (E911) rules to facilitate full compliance with those rules on a nationwide basis, according to a FCC announcement released in September. The Commission has also extended the date by which all wireless carriers must file reports on their E911 Phase II implementation plans.

The Commission's E911 rules are intended to improve the reliability of wireless 911 services by requiring wireless carriers to provide emergency dispatchers information on the location from which a wireless call is being made, the report said. The requirements are divided in two phases. Phase I requires carriers to deliver the phone number of a handset originating a 911 call to the emergency dispatcher and to the site receiving the call. This provides a rough indication of the caller's location. Phase II requires latitude and longitude information, known as automatic location identification (ALI) to the dispatcher.

The Commission's modifications to the rules for carriers employing handset-based ALI solutions include an extension of the deadline for carriers to begin selling ALI-capable handsets from March 1, 2001 to October 1, 2001. Also included in the modifications is a revised phase-in schedule, eliminating the separate phase-in schedule spawned by a PSAP request. The new phase-in schedule calls for at least 25% of all new handsets to be ALI-capable by December 31, 2001; 50% by June 30, 2002; and 100% after December 31, 2002. Modifications also extend the deadline for carriers to file E911 Phase II implementation reports from October 1, 200 to November 9, 2000.

The Order also provides additional guidance regarding the Commission's stand on potential requests for waiver of the requirements. In the event, the Commission will require requests to be specific, focused, and limited in scope. Carrier's must also take specific actions to come as close as possible to compliance. Waivers will not generally be warranted, the report said.

Contracts Qualcomm, Tellus Technology sign license agreement - Qualcomm, San Diego, and Tellus Technology, Fremont, CA, have entered into a CDMA modem card license agreement. Under the terms of the royalty-bearing agreement, Qualcomm has granted Tellus a worldwide license under Qualcomm's CDMA technology and patents to design and market modem card products for CDMA and high data rate (HDR) applications.

Global Communication Semiconductors selects AWR's Microwave Office MMIC design tool - Applied Wave Research (AWR), El Segundo, CA, has signed an agreement with Global Communication Semiconductors (GCS), LA, to provide electronic design automation (EDA) solutions to be used on a worldwide basis for the design of microwave integrated circuits.

Telular announces contract with Telcel - Telular, Vernon Hills, IL, has signed a $67.5 million contract with Telcel, Mexico. Under the terms of the contract, Telular will provide wireless products to Telcel, and BrightStar will serve as the fulfillment partner.

Spirent Communications acquires InfoSOFT Technologies - Spirent Communications, Eatontown, NJ, has acquired InfoSOFT Technologies, Ft. Worth. With the acquisition, Spirent offers a range of wireless test and deployment solutions that enable CDMA handset manufacturers and network operators to develop and roll-out next-generation products and services.

SyChip to jointly develop and supply chip-scale modules for mobile phones in China - SyChip, a Warren, NJ, Lucent Technologies venture, has won a major contract to jointly develop and supply chip-scale modules to CEC Wireless R&D of Beijing. The company expects the contract has the potential to be worth several million dollars to SyChip over the next several years.