THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE 911 EMERGENCY NUMBER STEMS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTERIZED COMMUNICATION SERVICES WHICH ALLOW AN EFFICIENT RESPONSE TO CITIZEN CALLS FOR HELP, AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE SEVEN-DIGIT EMERGENCY NUMBERS WHICH CAUSED UNACCEPTABLE DELAYS IN MAKING CONTACT WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES. THE CONCEPT OF A UNIVERSAL EMERGENCY NUMBER ORIGINATED IN EUROPE; IN 1967 IT SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IMPETUS FOR ADOPTION IN THE UNITED STATES. IN 1968 THE AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY (AT AND T) AGREED TO CLEAR THE NUMBER 911 FOR ANY PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY AND COMMUNITY GROUP THAT DESIRED TO DEVELOP A COMMON PUBLIC NUMBER FOR ENTRY TO LOCAL EMERGENCY SERVICES. ONLY ABOUT 800 OF THE 911 SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1968. REASONS FOR THE SLOW ACCEPTANCE OF 911 SYSTEMS ARE 1) LACK OF STRONG FEDERAL LEADERSHIP, 2) LACK OF PRIORITY STATUS OF THE ISSUE, 3) LACK OF TARGETED FUNDING, 4) INTRAAGENCY, INTERAGENCY AND JURISDICTIONAL CONFLICTS, AND 5) LACK OF STATE ACTION ON 911. MOREOVER AT AND T HAS DECIDED TO RESPOND REACTIVELY TO LOCAL INITIATIVES ON 911 SERVICE WITHOUT AGGRESSIVELY MARKETING THE CONCEPT. THE FEAR OF HIGH COSTS OF 911 IMPLEMENTATION IS ANOTHER DETERRENT. LEAA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF 911 SERVICE HAVE INCLUDED A COMPLETE SURVEY OF ALL 911 SYSTEMS IN THE U.S., THE EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADVANCED 911 SYSTEM IN ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, AND DEVELOPMENT OF A COST MODEL OF 911 SERVICE. NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN 911 TECHNOLOGY ARE SELECTIVE ROUTING, AUTOMATIC NUMBER IDENTIFICATION, AND AUTOMATIC LOCATION IDENTIFICATION. PUBLIC SUPPORT IS NEEDED TO SMOOTH THE WAY FOR COOPERATION AMONG ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES INVOLVED IN 911. DIAGRAMS, CHARTS, AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DEG)