NCJ Number
67523
Journal
COMMUNICATIONS NEWS Dated: (JANUARY 1978) Pages: 30-32
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
ACCORDING TO THIS REVIEW OF 10 YEARS OF 911 EMERGENCY SERVICES, A NATIONWIDE 911 SYSTEM SHOULD BE PROMOTED, DESPITE PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE OVERLAPPING EXCHANGE-JURISDICTION PROBLEM AND THE HIGH COST OF EQUIPMENT. PROFESSIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATORS SHOULD LEAD IN WORKING OUT PROBLEMS.
Abstract
AT PRESENT LESS THAN ONE-QUARTER OF THE TOTAL U.S. POPULATION HAS ACCESS TO 911 EMERGENCY SERVICE. IN THE AREAS WHERE THE SERVICE HAS BEEN ADOPTED, IT IS CONSIDERED BY THE POPULATION AS A UNIVERSAL EMERGENCY NUMBER. HOWEVER, IN MANY CASES THE SYSTEM COMPONENTS HAVE NOT BEEN DEFINED AND INTEGRATED, WHICH MAY POSE PROBLEMS. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A CITY POLICE AGENCY DEVISES A 911 SYSTEM, SOME TERRITORY BEYOND THEIR SPECIFIC JURISDICTION MAY BE INCLUDED BECAUSE OF THE MANNER IN WHICH TELEPHONE EXCHANGES ARE LAID OUT. THE AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR SERVICE TO THE OUTLYING TERRITORY MUST THEN RELY ON THE AGENCY THAT CAPTURED THE 911 SYSTEM TO FORWARD CALLS TO IT. TO FURTHER COMPOUND THE PROBLEM, AN AGENCY WITH AREA-WIDE JURISDICTION, SUCH AS A STATE POLICE AGENCY, MAY BE COMPLETELY IGNORED IN PLANNING. THIS SITUATION SUGGESTS THAT 911 PLANNING SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE COMMUNITY, AND NOT BY THE AGENCIES THAT ULTIMATELY MAY OPERATE THE SYSTEM, AS IT HAS BEEN DONE DURING THE 10-YEAR PERIOD. THE COMMUNITY WHICH REQUESTS THE SERVICE SHOULD HAVE A CLEAR IDEA OF SUCH ISSUES AS THE AGENCIES THAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE SYSTEM, AND THE PLACE OF THE ANSWERING POINT. FOR ITS PART, THE TELEPHONE COMPANY SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SHOW THE TERRITORY COVERED BY ITS EXCHANGE, AND THE COSTS OF ROUTINE TERMINATION OF 911 CALLS AT ONE POINT, THE COSTS OF ALL CALL-TRANSFER EQUIPMENT, AND OTHER COSTS. INABILITY TO WORK OUT A SATISFACTORY CALL PROCESSING ARRANGEMENT OR CONFUSION ABOUT THE SERVICE OFFERED GREATLY DETRACTS FROM THE BASIC PREMISE OF A SINGLE NUMBER. GIVEN THE GENERAL ACCEPTANCE OF 911 AND ITS CONTINUED BUT MODEST GROWTH IN THE 10 YEARS PAST, ACTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO ENCOURAGE A GREATER INSTALLATION RATE, AND THUS GAIN A NEW PUBLIC-SAFETY PERSPECTIVE. THE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED IN CHICAGO, WHICH INCLUDES SUCH FEATURES AS AUTOMATIC NUMBER IDENTIFICATION AND LOCATION INFORMATION, AND PROJECTS FUNDED BY LEAA IN CALIFORNIA AND FLORIDA TESTING COMPUTER-ASSISTED 911 SWITCHING ARRANGMENTS, SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION BY OTHER COMMUNITIES, DESPITE HIGH COSTS OF THE EQUIPMENT. TABULAR DATA IS INCLUDED.