CAREFUL PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESSFUL 911 IMPLEMENTATION, AND TELEPHONE COMPANIES MUST GIVE COMMUNITIES STRONG PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE SO THAT FEASIBLE PLANS MAY RESULT. HOWEVER, TELEPHONE COMPANY PLANNERS MUST REMAIN FLEXIBLE. THE FOLLOWING PLAN OF ACTION IS SUGGESTED. AN INTERNAL PLANNING AND POLICY COMMITTEE SHOULD FIRST BE ESTABLISHED FOR PRELIMINARY RESEARCH AND POLICYMAKING. NEXT, BASIC SERVICES SHOULD BE DETERMINED, AND SPECIFIC PROPOSALS DRAWN UP OUTLINING WHAT IS TO BE PROVIDED FOR WHAT CHARGES. DEVELOPING A BACKUP FOR THE PRIMARY SYSTEM CIRCUITS AND EQUIPMENT WILL BE REQUIRED FOR HIGH-QUALITY SERVICE, AND 911 PARTICIPANTS SUCH AS POLICE OR FIREFIGHTERS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO RETAIN SOME EXISTING GENERAL TELEPHONE EXCHANGE LINES FOR THIS PURPOSE. PERHAPS THE MOST DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO OVERCOME IN 911 IMPLEMENTATION IS THE MISMATCH OFTEN OCCURRING BETWEEN THE CENTRAL TELEPHONE OFFICE BOUNDARIES AND JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES OF THE GOVERNING BODY REQUESTING 911. GOVERNMENT SERVICES SHOULD THUS BE GIVEN A MAP OF CENTRAL TELEPHONE OFFICE BOUNDARIES TO DIRECT THEIR EFFORTS. FINALLY, EMERGENCY MEDICAL, FIRE, POLICE, AND OTHER SERVICES PARTICIPANTS, AS WELL AS THE HOST AGENCY MANAGING 911, SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED, AND APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TIME AND PEAK HOUR TELEPHONE TRAFFIC SHOULD BE DETERMINED. TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF OPERATING 911 ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. (PAP)