The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that the nation’s four largest wireless carriers have committed to speeding up the availability of text-to-911 services. Major deployments of the services are expected to occur in 2013, and the carriers have committed to nation-wide availability by May 15, 2014.
The ability to text 911 will benefit people with disabilities such as hearing loss or speech impairments, or people who are in danger and unable to speak. The FCC says the Text-to-911 will complement rather than replace voice technology, and recommends that consumers use the voice system when possible.
Sprint Wireless recently announced that it has started a four-week trial of the new 911 texting technology in Vermont, saysUrgent Communications.
The carriers have committed to providing customers with “bounce back” text messages in areas where the service will not be available during the phase-in stage. The text tells customers that their text message was unsuccessful and advises them to make a voice call to a 911 center The “bounce back” capability will be fully implemented across the four networks by June 30, 2013.
“This is good progress, but our work is not done," said FCC Chairman Genachowski. “The FCC will consider further actions to advance text-to-911 for all consumers. We will also take additional steps in this area next year, including closely monitoring carriers’ compliance with the commitments they have made ... and addressing other aspects of Next Generation 911 such as enabling transmission of photos and videos to 9-1-1 centers. We are also working to strengthen the resiliency and reliability of the existing 911 system, where significant deficiencies were revealed by this summer’s Derecho.”
The Commission will work with 911 authorities, PSAPs, the Emergency Access Advisory Committee, public safety organizations, disability organizations, consumer groups and industry on the implementation of these services.
