WHEN 911 IS DIALED, THE CALL IS AUTOMATICALLY ROUTED THROUGH THE TELEPHONE CENTRAL OFFICE TO A COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE WHERE A DISPATCH OFFICER DETERMINES THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF THE PROBLEM AND NOTIFIES THE APPROPRIATE ORGANIZATION OF THE NATURE AND LOCATION OF THE PROBLEM. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A 911 SYSTEM IN A COMMUNITY IS MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN IT HAS THE SUPPORT OF KEY PUBLIC OFFICIALS. AS OF JANUARY 1975, APPROXIMATELY 60 NEBRASKA COMMUNITIES HAVE AN OPERATING 911 SYSTEM, WITH THE TELEPHONE COMPANY AND THE COMMUNITY SHARING THE COSTS OF THE SYSTEM. ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE THE PUBLIC IN EMERGENCIES, SUCH AS FIRE DEPARTMENTS, POLICE, AND AMBULANCE SERVICES, ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 911 SYSTEM. ADVANTAGES OF THE 911 SYSTEM ARE ITS ELIMINATION OF THE NEED FOR THE CITIZEN TO DETERMINE A PROPER COURSE OF ACTION, THE EASE WITH WHICH THE 911 NUMBER CAN BE REMEMBERED, AND THE INCREASE IN THE QUALITY OF ALL EMERGENCY SERVICES IN A COMMUNITY. DISADVANTAGES OF THE SYSTEM THAT ARE COMMONLY CITED--INCREASED AMOUNT OF RESPONSE TIME AND THE GREATER POTENTIAL FOR OVERLOAD OF 911 TELEPHONE LINES THAN FOR LOCAL EMERGENCY LINES--DO NOT HOLD TRUE; 911 HAS PROVED TO DECREASE RESPONSE TIME, AND THE 911 SYSTEM HAS LESS POTENTIAL FOR OVERLOAD THAN PRESENT SYSTEMS AS THE LATTER MUST HANDLE ADMINISTRATIVE CALLS BESIDES THE EMERGENCY CALLS. AUXILIARY SERVICES ENHANCING THE 911 SYSTEM INCLUDE HOLD AND RE-RING (ALLOWING THE 911 OPERATOR TO CALL BACK THE REPORTING CITIZEN), FORCIBLE DISCONNECT, AND DIAL-TONE-FIRST (FOR COIN TELEPHONES, SO THAT THE CALLER NEED NOT DEPOSIT COINS). JURISDICTIONAL PROBLEMS ARE DIAGRAMMED. (WJR)