BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION OF 911 SERVICE, LOCAL COMMUNITIES MUST MAKE EXTENSIVE PREPARATIONS. A PUBLICLY ACCOUNTABLE AGENCY MUST BE DESIGNATED TO ANSWER ALL 911 CALLS WITHIN A GEOGRAPHIC AREA; A PLAN FOR DISPATCHING APPROPRIATE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE MUST BE READY; AND COMMUNITY PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION FACILITIES, TELEPHONE TERMINALS, AND SUPPORTING STAFF. IN ADDITION, THE PUBLIC MUST BE PERSUADED TO USE 911 SERVICE. THE CURRENT LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF 911 SERVICE IS DUE TO A LACK OF COST AND BENEFIT INFORMATION, STATE-OF-THE-ART INFORMATION ON INNOVATIVE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE DISPATCHING PROCEDURES AND TECHNOLOGY, AND ANALYTICAL TOOLS FOR COMPARATIVE COST ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES. MOREOVER, LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL MONIES FOR EMPLOYING TECHNICAL EXPERTS TO CUSTOM DESIGN INTEGRATED CALL PROCESSING SYSTEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES ARE LACKING. LEAA'S ROLE IS TO ASSIST STATES AND LOCALITIES IN ADDRESSING LOCALLY IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS. THE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED INCLUDES CONDUCTING RESEARCH, DEVELOPING EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, EVALUATING INNOVATIVE SYSTEMS CONCEPTS, AND MAKING TECHNICAL AND FUNDING RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ESTABLISHED GRANTEE SELECTION CRITERIA. LEAA IS ACTIVELY PROMOTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 911 SERVICE THROUGH A DEMONSTRATION OF NEW 911 TECHNOLOGIES IN ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, AND A SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SOON TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO STATE AND LOCAL 911 PLANNERS. LEAA IS ALSO DEVELOPING A 'TRUNKED' MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY WHICH WILL SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVE THE COMMAND, CONTROL, AND COMMUNICATIONS FUNCTIONS OF PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES' EMERGENCY RESPONSE FLEETS - THE ESSENTIALS OF AN EFFECTIVE 911 COMMUNITY SERVICE. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DEG)