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Text your 9-1-1 emergency, FCC launches NG911

August 11, 2011
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To FCC is working on enabling 911 emergency services to receive texts, photos, and videos.

At the 2011 APCO Conference in Philadelphia August 10 , FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced his five step action plan to chart the transition to Next Generation 9-1-1 services (NG911).

According to the FCC’s August 10th press release:

  • NG911 supports seamless, end-to-end IP-based communication of emergency-related voice, text, data, photos, and video between the public and public safety answering points (PSAPs).
  • NG911 systems will continue to support the legacy 911 system on a transitional basis for as long as is necessary.
  • NG911 multi-media capabilities expand accessibility (e.g., to persons with disabilities) and give all consumers more calling options in emergencies.
  • PSAPs receiving text, data, photos, and videos can assess emergencies more quickly and respond more effectively.
  • IP-based architecture provides more flexibility and resiliency than the legacy circuit-switched 911 system.

Would you use your cell phone to text message an emergency?

 

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  • http://twitter.com/lizschau liz

    I’ve been thinking about this for a few years now. Seems like a good idea. Thanks for the heads-up.

  • Dr. Gordon Jones

    Last week FCC Chairman Genachowski’s announcement of a 5 point plan to develop and
    deploy the Next
    Generation 911 System was a good bit behind the times. We in the trenches are already hard at work, while
    Congress argues over who is going to pay for it. Your input is needed to
    review a new real-time video streaming mobile technology that will help public
    safety professionals build safer communities. GuardianWatch.com