A TOTAL OF 17 COUNTIES, 57 MUNICIPALITIES, 93 TELEPHONE CENTRAL OFFICES, AND 30 EXCHANGE AREAS ARE INCLUDED IN THE ATLANTIC AREA. IN PLANNING FOR 911, ATLANTA MUST CONSIDER SEVERAL PROBLEMS INDIVIDUAL TO ITS NEEDS. THESE INCLUDE PERCEPTION OF NEED, COST PER MUNICIPALITY, BOUNDARY LIMITATIONS, FIRE INSURANCE RATES, AND PRESENT PROBLEM OR NONPROBLEM IN DIALING FOR EMERGENCY AID. COMPLICATIONS ARE INABILITY OF INDEPENDENT TELEPHONE COMPANIES TO USE 911 WITHOUT EQUIPMENT CONVERSION, DELAYS IN SWITCHING CALL TO AGENCY WITH JURISDICTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR AID, AND INCONSISTENCY IN TELEPHONE EXCHANGE AND POLITICAL BOUNDARY LINES. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE ITEMS TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN SETTING UP A COMMON ANSWERING SERVICE. THE COST OF 911 IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ESTIMATE WITHOUT EQUIPMENT AND NEED SPECIFICATIONS. SOME POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES FOR 911 INCLUDE A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR POLICE SWITCHBOARD OPERATORS AND OTHER EMERGENCY AGENCIES, INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL TELEPHONE LINES AND 'DIAL TONE FIRST' PAY TELEPHONES, INSTALLATION OF EMERGENCY PUBLIC TELEPHONES, CAMPAIGN TO POST CORRECT EMERGENCY NUMBERS, AND ROUTING OF 911 CALLS TO OPERATORS. (AOP)