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Federal Communications Law Journal

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2005

Publication Citation

57 Federal Communications Law Journal 413 (2005)

Abstract

Since the grant of the first Commercial Mobile Radio Service ("CMRS") license over twenty years ago, the wireless industry has grown from a service of convenience to one that is indispensable. What once was a device used for sporadic phone calls now is viewed by many Americans as a source of invaluable communication and security. As the wireless industry matured, government officials turned to the mobile phone as a way to make the United States safer. E-9 11, the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act ("CALEA"), Wireless Priority Service ("WPS"), and Outage Reporting all were initiated on the wireless platform in the name of safety. The FCC implementation proceedings for each of these initiatives have differed markedly. In an advanced technology area such as wireless, government goals may best be achieved by relying on industry experts, because the technology is so sophisticated and constantly developing that the legislative and regulatory process at times cannot keep pace. This Article reviews wireless public safety and Homeland Security initiatives in three phases and explores the evolution of Homeland Security regulation of the wireless industry.

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