Hoping to leverage Tennessee’s IP-based 911 network, AT&T announced that it will undertake a statewide trial of text-to-911 service for its cellular customers who need to report emergencies. The company acknowledged that making a voice 911 call is still the “primary and preferred” method of reporting emergencies, and pledged to work with the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) and other groups to integrate text messaging into existing and new 911 networks. There are only a handful of comm centers in America now accepting text messages to report emergencies, and usually from only a single carrier. The technology of text messaging has several inherent drawbacks for a critical service such as reporting police, fire and medical emergencies. Nonetheless, the service is being pushed by politicians who believe the public wants and needs the service. However, the public’s desire for the service may be small—after a one-year trial of text-to-911 in Durham (NC), dispatchers have handled just one 911 text message. The Tennessee Emergency Communications Board (TECB) has approved the trial. The press release didn’t state when the service would be available for cellular subscribers.
Here is the press release issued by AT&T:
AT&T and State of Tennessee to Launch Text to 9-1-1 Trial
Standards-Based Solution Will Enable AT&T Subscribers to Send Emergency Texts to 9-1-1 Statewide
DALLAS, Sept. 5, 2012 — More and more, public safety agencies are embracing new technologies and IP-based networks to communicate with constituents in emergency situations. Over the past few years, the state of Tennessee has invested in an advanced, statewide 9-1-1 IP infrastructure, giving Tennesseans access to the best technology available to coordinate emergency responses. Today, AT&T* announced the state of Tennessee has approved the use of the state’s new Emergency Service IP Network (ESInet) to support a Text to 9-1-1 trial statewide.
Under this trial, AT&T will work with the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board (TECB) to provide a Text to 9-1-1 trial service, allowing for emergency 9-1-1 Short Message Service (SMS) text messages from AT&T wireless subscribers to be received by Tennessee 9-1-1 call centers, known as public service answering points (PSAPs). The trial will use the existing ESInet and statewide IP network backbone (NetTN), key components in the state of Tennessee’s Next-Generation 9-1-1 plan.
“In today’s mobile environment, it’s vital that Tennessee’s public safety infrastructure keep pace,” said Lynn Questell, Executive Director, TECB. “This trial with AT&T will build upon efforts to modernize and enhance our emergency communication network, leveraging new technologies to serve our citizens and work to ensure their safety.”
While dialing 9-1-1 by phone remains the primary and preferred method to contact public safety agencies, the Text to 9-1-1 trial will enable PSAPs in Tennessee to begin receiving 9-1-1 SMS texts from AT&T wireless subscribers through the state’s ESInet. The trial will allow PSAPs to develop best practices and methods to receive and integrate these types of emergency communications in the future.
The trial will utilize concepts and designs from key industry groups working on Text to 9-1-1 standards and will leverage the National Emergency Number Association’s (NENA) i3 standards and recommendations.
“AT&T is committed to working with standard bodies, national, state, and local public safety organizations to determine how best to integrate SMS text messages and other advanced communications into future 9-1-1 systems and wireless networks,” said Mel Coker, Vice President, Public Safety Solutions, AT&T Business Solutions. “This trial will be vital in evaluating Text to 9-1-1 solutions with the goal of providing reliable, universal access for our customers.”
3 comments… add one
Amazing….if there are any PSAP managers and policy makers that actually think that this “technology” is good and are going to force it on to your centers….GOOOOOOOOOOOOD LUCK. This is sooooooooo ripe with potential to be a DISASTER.
JUST SAY NO TO TEXTING 911!!
It’s just a trial so it’s not permanently implemented. I’m kinda the type, don’t knock it till you try it. It does seem howeover by just reading this article, that there needs to be a format for callers still. Otherwise we’ll be texting all day trying to get details, etc. It’s already hard enough to get that by phone. It will definitely be trial and error and that’s for sure!
I dont see any good coming out of it personally in my comm center. Joint dispatch center for a county of aprx 300,000 people with one metro area included. Working nights I am usually talking to callers who need a lot of coaxing to get information from them for scene safety and correct response. This would be easier to do while on the phone with the correct tone to stress the importance of information. But we will see how it works I guess.
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