As part of the nationwide push to upgrade and modernize emergency response systems, Nebraska is taking steps to overhaul its 911 system by 2019, the Omaha World-Herald reported. The current system is frequently imprecise in pinpointing locations where help is needed. Once the new technology is in place, GPS mapping will be able to locate the caller’s cell phone, rather than relying on verbal instructions or vague cell tower proximity estimations.
As more callers use cell phones as their sole or primary means of communication, the telecom industry faces the challenge of providing connectivity across a large state with both urban centers and vast rural areas. Government officials acknowledge there are currently coverage dead zones within the state. The success of the new emergency response system will have a lot to do with the reliable support provided by Nebraska’s network of cell towers, reports the Omaha World-Herald.
Available data indicates at least eight out of ten 911 calls are made by cell phones, outpacing 911 centers, dating from landline era. The 2019 changes will refocus and expand service to respond to cell phones, online contact, text messaging, and photo queries in addition to traditional wired calls.
Wireless surcharge funds will cover the 911 upgrade costs. Officials estimate it will cost $6.5 million per year to maintain the new system. A breakdown of how these funds will be applied is not yet available.
At the heart of these changes, is the desire to assist people in need as quickly and efficiently as possible. As important as the technology is in meeting this goal, the human element is also a key part of the process. Emergency dispatchers today are not subject to training and certification standards. Nebraska aims to emerge with a 911 system that will provide the best in both human and electronic support for its residents.
December 26, 2017
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