NextGen 911 to Bring Emergency Deployment Into This Century

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Consumers should plan ahead to save time in an emergency should their mobile phone not be able to connect to 911. “Immediate busy signals or calls that ring but never get picked up are two clues that your service provider is suffering a 911 failure,” according to the New York Times.

Look up the emergency 10-digit direct numbers of your local police precinct, fire department, hospital or medical service and program them into your phone’s contact list. The carrier may also post these numbers online.

The 911 system was put into place before cell phones became widely used, and Congress and the FCC are working to modernize the system, Inside Towers reported. NextGen 911 will be able to handle texts, photos, videos and more. 

The congressional Next Generation 911 Caucus focuses on education, policy and funding efforts. The caucus is co-chaired by Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Reps. John Shimkus (R-IL) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA).

The caucus works with the NG911 Institute to promote nationwide NG911 deployment. NG911 Institute sponsors include: Comcast, AT&T, CTIA, Comtech, OnStar, Time Warner Cable, Verizon, West Safety Systems, CenturyLink, GeoComm, Mission Critical Partners, Motorola Solutions, NextNav, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, RapidSOS, TracFone, and communications law firm Wilkinson Barker Knauer.

April 11, 2017      

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