August 26, 2003
Call for improved cell phone service during emergencies
US Senator Charles E. Schumer has proposed requiring every cell phone provider give first priority to emergency personnel and urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve service for all cell phone users during emergencies, according to Cellular News.
"Schumer said that while cell phone calls will surpass land line calls in New York within two years, cell phone networks already can't handle high call volumes after a major disaster. Almost all cellular networks can only handle 25 to 30% of their customers making a phone call at any one time, and the FCC does not currently put specific requirements on network quality or capacity.
Even worse, most police, firefighters, and first responders do not get priority for their cell phone calls after disasters because only one cell phone provider in New York has implemented the plan to do this that the Federal government put in place almost two years ago.
Schumer found that T-Mobile is the only cell phone provider with a working plan in place to give emergency providers first priority to place cell phone calls during emergencies".
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