Does At&T offer Enhanced 911?

@lucasm1  E911 is required and on all Phones, from all providers currently available in the USA.

https://www.fcc.gov/general/enhanced-9-1-1-wireless-services

Does the location button have to be on on the smartphone to get Enhanced 911

Thanks

What you said is completely misleading. 

You DON'T have E911 in all areas.  You only have the CAPABILITY to provide E911.  Even worse, even though you have the capability to provide E911 service in all areas, you chose not to do so. 

You provide E911 service ONLY if it is requested by law enforcement in the region.  On top of that, you can't even tell customers what regions have E911.  You actually told me to call 911 MYSELF  TO  SEE  IF  MY  AT&T SERVICE  HAS  E911!!!!

Some people have relied on your statement that you have E911  in  order  to  cancel  their  home  phone  service (all of which do have E911).  You need to be very careful what you tell customers.  They rely on your statements to save their lives -- what you just said actually puts people's lives in danger.

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@hoomee wrote:

What you said is completely misleading. 

 

You DON'T have E911 in all areas.  You only have the CAPABILITY to provide E911.  Even worse, even though you have the capability to provide E911 service in all areas, you chose not to do so. 

 

You provide E911 service ONLY if it is requested by law enforcement in the region.  On top of that, you can't even tell customers what regions have E911.  You actually told me to call 911 MYSELF  TO  SEE  IF  MY  AT&T SERVICE  HAS  E911!!!!

 

Some people have relied on your statement that you have E911  in  order  to  cancel  their  home  phone  service (all of which do have E911).  You need to be very careful what you tell customers.  They rely on your statements to save their lives -- what you just said actually puts people's lives in danger.

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Yeah that is not how E911 works.  The FCC set requirements that had to be met.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_9-1-1

You completely misunderstand my point. 

This is a matter of public safety as it relates to AT&T representations to its customers.  This does not have to do with FCC regulations--which are not relevant to the issue here (also,  the Wikepedia article you referenced is not a comprehensive analysis of the regulation -- I know this as an attorney).  Even putting all of that aside, AT&T's comments are wholly misleading (whether intentional or not). 

I confirmed all of this by contacting law enforcement, and speaking with AT&T.  For example, in my son's region, AT&T does NOT offer E911, but in my region they do.  When I called them they said that they offered E911.  But, as I said, that is not accurate.  They only have the capability to offer E911 -- but they only offer it in certain areas.  AT&T could not even tell me what regions they offer the service!  I actually had to call the regular line to the sheriff's department -- and they couldn't believe AT&T told me to call them!

What AT&T should clearly say to its customers is the following: 

1.  Pursuant to federal law, all phones have E911 capability;

2. AT&T has an E911 capable system;

3.  However, we offer E911 only in selected areas where it is requested by law enforcement;

4.  Call your local law enforcement agency to see if we are offering E911 service in your region.

If AT&T would have accurately made this representation many people would not have cancelled their home phone service.  I would strongly suggest that AT&T make a public clarifying statement about this because it is a matter of public safety.

@hoomee

https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/911-wireless-services

I appreciate the link to the FCC page, which is sub-titled "Tips for Making Wireless 911 Calls."

However, like I said, this has nothing to do with the FCC (whether it be its regulations or tips).  This has to do with AT&T representations (or misrepresentations).  AT&T needs to clarify that they do not have E911 service in all areas, and that it is up to the customer to confirm this.

Any AT&T customer will want to know whether a 911 operator will have their telephone number and location if they call 911 from their mobile phone.

I linked a different page  copy below   

e911 is not dependent on having service or coverage.  An e911 call can be placed and connected even if it’s a Sprint phone with no coverage, or a phone with no sim or service.   Are you saying that a particular town has no 911 services?  Or no ability to track via e911?   

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FCC wireless 911 rules aim to provide Public Safety Answering Points with meaningful, accurate location information so that local emergency responders can be dispatched to quickly provide assistance to wireless 911 callers.

The FCC's basic 911 rules require wireless service providers to transmit all 911 calls to a PSAP, regardless of whether the caller subscribes to the provider's service or not.

Phase I Enhanced 911 (E911) rules require wireless service providers to provide the PSAP with the telephone number of the originator of a wireless 911 call and the location of the cell site or base station transmitting the call.

Phase II E911 rules require wireless service providers to provide the latitude and longitude of callers to PSAPs. This information must be accurate to within 50 to 300 meters depending upon the type of location technology used.

The FCC permits exclusions for location accuracy requirements where wireless carriers determine that providing location accuracy is limited, or technologically impossible, because of either heavy forestation or the inability to triangulate a caller's location. Wireless service providers are required to file with the FCC a list of counties, or portions of counties, that they seek to exclude from these requirements. Wireless carriers must report any changes to their exclusion lists within 30 days of such changes. The exclusion lists and changes must be reported in the record of the FCC's docketed proceeding, PS Docket No. 07-114, which is publicly available online.

The FCC's wireless 911 rules apply to all wireless licensees, broadband Personal Communications Service licensees and certain Specialized Mobile Radio licensees. Mobile Satellite Service providers are excluded.