The FCC today fined three wireless carriers for failing to meet deadlines for providing E911 service to their mobile phone customers. Sprint Nextel was fined $1.325 million, Alltel was fined $1 million, and U.S. Cellular was fined $500,000.

U.S. carriers were required to ensure that 95% of their subscribers had location-aware handsets by December 31, 2005. Those three carriers, well, didn't.

"While we recognize the efforts undertaken by the carriers, and encourage the continued efforts of all carriers to enhance these life-saving technologies and work with the public safety community, the fines issued today are significant and appropriate," FCC chairman Kevin J. Martin said in a statement issued today. "Our actions today underscore the critical importance that 911 services play in the lives of the public."

As Geek.com's Brian Osborne notes, "You have to admit that the FCC has seemed very patient until now if you consider that deadline for compliance was December 31, 2005. The FCC, according to the law, can assess up to a $130,000 fine for each day of a continuing violation up to a maximum $1.325 million. It's clear Sprint Nextel was unfortunate enough to reach this maximum in its violation."

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