Carriers seek waiver for e911 requirements

The FCC has given U.S. wireless carriers a December 31 deadline by which 95 percent of their subscribers are supposed to have phones capable of supporting e911 technology, which sends location information to public safety officials when placing emergency 911 calls. The trouble is, Verizon and Sprint (Cingular and T-mobile GSM providers aren't subject to the same rules because different technologies underlie their location systems) don't think they'll be able to make the deadline because customers aren't upgrading their phones fast enough. They're asking for a waiver on the requirements so that they don't have to face the prospect of having to offer customers steep discounts on new handsets. Sounds pretty practical — after all, safety profit first!