FCC May Stop 911 Access For NSI Phones

An anonymous reader writes: It's generally known that if you call 911 from a cell phone in the USA, you will be connected to the nearest Public Safety Access Point, whether or not the phone has an active account. This is the basis for programs that distribute donated phones for emergency-only use. However, the FCC has proposed a rule change that would eliminate the requirement for telephone companies to connect 911 calls made by NSI (non-service-initialized) phones. The main reason for the proposed rule change are the problems caused by fraudulent 911 calls made through NSI phones. Yet respondents cited by the FCC show that as many as 30% of 911 calls from NSI phones are for legitimate emergencies. The comment period for the proposed rule change ends on June 6th, 2015.

Comments

Trolling Douchebags

[idontgno]

The main reason for the proposed rule change are the problems caused by fraudulent 911 calls made through NSI phones.

This is why we can't have nice things.

I wonder if the FCC will start a crusade against fraudulent 911 calls made through anonymous VOIP services? Maybe all 911 services? 'Cuz they're clearly getting abused.

Whew! I'm glad we're rid of that dirty bathwater. Too bad about the baby, though.

Re:Trolling Douchebags

[mwvdlee]

Then disallow calling 911 from NSI phones and start giving away free but registered 911-only SIM cards with the phones.
Heck, make it empty but upgradable pre-paid cards and telecom providers will probably pay you money to give them away.

Re:Trolling Douchebags

[LWATCDR]

70% are hoaxes.
A solution would be for the Cell carriers to be required to "register" those phones for free for 911 service.
Each must be attached to an id so you can bust people for swatting.
Not ideal but a compromise solution.

Re:Trolling Douchebags

[beelsebob]

Well, the question is simple. Do receiving 70% of the calls from NSI phones being trolls cause more irreversible consequences than not receiving the 30% that are not trolls.

It may well be that more than twice as many trolls in fact cause more legitimate emergencies to go unattended than simply not receiving the legitimate NSI calls causes.

Re:Trolling Douchebags

[war4peace]

That's not what it's about. One could imagine a situation where kidnapped people would get their hands on a phone with no SIM card in it (or an inactive one) and dial 911. Take that away and it might kill people.
Yes, fraudulent 911 calls are a problem. But I'd rather have 100 of those for each legitimate call from an NSI phone which might save one or more lives.

This is yet another example where cost effectiveness mentality kills people.

Re:Trolling Douchebags

[beelsebob]

The problem is that this doesn't solve the problem. The problem that NSI calling addresses is that not everyone is prepared. Maybe I (as a brit) visit the US, and don't get a temporary SIM while I'm there - my SIM can't be used to make any calls at all... Except for that crucial 911 call that I wasn't prepared for.

Handing out free 911-only SIMs doesn't make it so that someone who is unprepared can call.

Re:Trolling Douchebags

[Orange Crush]

I can imagine a situation where I call 911 with my phone (with current paid-for service) and help can't get to me because they're too busy checking out 100 prank phone calls from unregistered phones

This isn't about cost-effectiveness, it's about keeping our finite number emergency responders going after real emergencies.

Re:Trolling Douchebags

[halivar]

Yes, fraudulent 911 calls are a problem. But I'd rather have 100 of those for each legitimate call from an NSI phone which might save one or more lives.

This is yet another example where cost effectiveness mentality kills people.

What about people placed on hold because the emergency lines are tied up? Making decisions with your feelings can kill people, too.

Re:Trolling Douchebags

[Anonymous Coward]

Easy to say until you or someone you know and love are the person being denied access to 911 because of this rule change.

Re:Trolling Douchebags

[aardvarkjoe]

Yes, fraudulent 911 calls are a problem. But I'd rather have 100 of those for each legitimate call from an NSI phone which might save one or more lives.

The attitude that any cost is acceptable for the chance of saving a life is a common problem.

There is a point where the resources devoted to your pet cause A could be more beneficial -- even in terms of saving lives -- if directed elsewhere.

Re:Trolling Douchebags

[mark-t]

Kind of like how back before cell phones were ubiquitous, you couldn't generally run down who the heck made a call to 911 from a pay-phone, you mean?

Re:Trolling Douchebags

[Archangel Michael]

One could imagine a situation where kidnapped people would get their hands on a phone with no SIM card in it (or an inactive one) and dial 911. Take that away and it might kill people.

I can imagine it, doesn't mean it will happen ... ever. But instead of making fun of people, explain it in simple terms.

Kidnappings are very rare. Everything after that is even more rare. All the "might" after that simply means that it is less likely to happen. At some point, there is practically no chance of it ever happening.

Might get kidnapped
Might get a cell phone
Might not be enable
Might be charged enough to work
Might get rescued

Any break in that is an escape clause for the need. I'm not kidnapped, I don't need. No cell phone access, I don't need. Already is active, don't have a need. Dead battery, don't have a need. Kidnappers find out I called 911 on their disabled phone that happened to be charged, kills me before I can be rescued.

Yes, it is ridiculous example, but it needs to be made for the people who don't want to think things through. Yes, stupid people exist, make stupid suggestions that sound all great and wonderful .. until ... logic is applied. These are Emotional arguments.

Re:Trolling Douchebags

[mark-t]

I think you are completely misunderstanding the kinds of non-emergencies that people call in to 911... here's a big hint, they are *never* related to situations where someone's life or long-term safety could be reasonably believed to be in some kind of danger. Heart attacks, even though they can often not be fatal, are well within the domain of emergency. Examples of what are *NOT* emergencies are calling 911 to get driving directions, or finding the nearest liquor store, or complaining that the stores are closed and you need to buy a present for your friend for their wedding tomorrow morning (that's an emergency, right?). These are but a sampling of the kinds of the actual non-emergencies that people call 911 about, and the caller is fined appropriately (although in many cases, they are given a warning if it is their first such infraction, and if it happens again, then they are fined). A friend of mine that used to be a 911 dispatch operator always had some really funny stories to tell about some of his more memorable callers. What is less funny, however, is the fact that such calls can and sometimes do interfere with their ability to properly handle real emergencies, and it is why the behavior needs to be discouraged. I don't advocate disallowing 911 calls from non-activated phones personally, because I think it may be throwing the baby out with the bathwater, as it were... but I can completely understand the reasoning behind why it may be desirable.

Are we primarily talking about 'swatting' attacks?

[Applehu Akbar]

Prank calls to emergency services have been going on long before 911, but I'm sure that burner phones, which seems to be the category of device we're dealing with here, would be ideal for calling in those false emergency reports designed to send SWAT teams to the home of someone you don't like.

Obvious point of comparison?

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

So, for NSI phones, the figures are reportedly 70% fraudulent, 30% legit.

But what am I supposed to compare that to? What are the numbers for wired phones? Cellphones on contracts? Prepaid cell phones?

This seems like pretty important information if one hopes to make a decision. Nobody wants bogus 911 calls cluttering up the system; but is 70% fraud similar? Modestly worse? Terrible?

Also, if we deem 911 access to be a social good(which is why NSI 911 calls work at all, and seems pretty reasonable), why not split the difference and allow someone to 'register' an NSI phone(having their particulars on file with 911 dispatch is likely to discourage spurious use and potentially be useful for locating them in an emergency if they are unable to provide clarification themselves thanks to injury or exigent circumstance) without signing up for a paid calling plan? So long as it is 911 only, it's still no competition for actual calling plans; but it's less draconian than just killing NSI 911 entirely.

Just flag the NSI calls

[Anonymous Coward]

Flag the NSI calls. If the 911 dispatcher can tell that a call is coming from a NSI phone, they can apply the appropriate level of skepticism.

It's better than disabling all the phones.

Need more info

[Anonymous Coward]

I would like a break down of the break down of the 70% on pranks vs stupidiy calls and a compare on how many regular phones numbers get of valid prank and stupidly calls

Re:Another gift to the corporate oligarchy

[Anonymous Coward]

The irony of this comment of course being that Anita has never been SWATed, but plenty of the Gamer Gate folks have.