MANDATORY AND OPTIONAL 911 OPERATIONAL AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS ARE DELINEATED. DIAGRAMS ARE USED TO ILLUSTRATE THE OPERATION OF THE FOUR METHODS OF RESPONSE IN A BASIC OR SOPHISTICATED 911 SYSTEM: (1) THE DIRECT DISPATCH METHOD, (2) THE RELAY METHOD, (3) THE TRANSFER METHOD, AND (4) THE REFERRAL METHOD. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF BASIC 911 DECENTRALIZED AND CENTRALIZED SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS THE CONFIGURATION OF A SOPHISTICATED 911 SYSTEM, ARE DESCRIBED. MAJOR ISSUES INVOLVED IN PLANNING A 911 SYSTEM ARE DISCUSSED; AND A CHECKLIST FOR AGENCIES TO USE IN 911 PLANNING IS PROVIDED. THE MANUAL ALSO EMPHASIZES SECURING THE COOPERATION OF AS MANY JURISDICTIONS AS POSSIBLE AND PROVIDING THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF CONTACT POINTS BETWEEN THE CALLING PARTY AND THE RESPONDING AGENCY. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN IDENTIFYING SPECIFIC EQUIPMENT NEEDS INCLUDE THE SOPHISTICATION OF THE SYSTEM, (2) THE NUMBER OF EMERGENCY LINES REQUIRED, AND (3) THE EXPECTED AMOUNT OF EMERGENCY TRAFFIC AND PERSONNEL REQUIRED TO HANDLE THE SYSTEM DURING NORMAL AND PEAK PERIODS. COST CATEGORIES FOR THE 911 SYSTEM ARE DEPICTED, AND INCLUDE AN ILLUSTRATION OF COST RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN THE TELEPHONE COMPANY, TELEPHONE USERS, AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES. KEY STEPS IN THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION OF A 911 SYSTEM ARE LISTED, AND INCLUDE PUBLIC EDUCATION, TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT MODIFICATIONS, PRIORITY PROCEDURES IN ACCEPTING 911 CALLS, TRAINING OF 911 OPERATORS, AND RECORD KEEPING ACTIVITIES. A PROGRAM FOR CONTINUING ASSESSMENT OF 911 OPERATIONS IS ALSO ADVOCATED. ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE IDEA OF A UNIVERSAL EMERGENCY NUMBER ARE DISCUSSED. REFERENCES AND A GLOSSARY OF TERMINOLOGY ARE PROVIDED.