| All Calls Annually: |
Nationwide, an estimated 200 million calls are made
to 9-1-1 each year. |
| Population Covered |
99% (at
least basic 9-1-1) |
| Geographic U.S. Covered: |
96% (at least basic 9-1-1) |
| Basic 9-1-1: |
Basic 9-1-1 means that when the three-digit
number is dialed, a call taker/dispatcher in the local
public safety answering point (PSAP), or
9-1-1 call center,
answers the call. The emergency and its location
are communicated by voice (or TTY) between the caller
and the call taker. |
| Enhanced 9-1-1: |
In areas serviced by enhanced 9-1-1, the
call is routed to the proper local
9-1-1 center for the
caller location, and the local 9-1-1 center has equipment
and database information that
display
the
caller's
phone
number and
address to
the call taker. The term "enhanced 9-1-1" is
not synonymous with wireless
9-1-1. |
| Wireless Phase I: |
When Phase I has been implemented, the
call taker automatically receives the wireless call-back
number. This is important in the event the wireless
phone call is dropped, and may even allow PSAP employees
to work with the wireless company to identify the wireless
subscriber. Phase I also delivers the location
of the cell tower handling the call. |
| Wireless Phase II: |
Phase II allows call takers to receive
both the caller's wireless phone number and fairly precise
location information, obtained either from a GPS chip
in the handset or by triangulating the caller’s
position based on nearby cell towers. |
| Wireless 9-1-1 Progress: |
The United States has 6,166 primary and
secondary PSAPs. Based on NENA’s preliminary assessment
of the most recent FCC quarterly filings:
•
5% have either basic 9-1-1 or no 9-1-1
•
95% have enhanced 9-1-1 for wireline callers
•
73.4% have some Phase I
•
40.5% have some Phase II |
| What is the Delay with Wireless
9-1-1? |
Implementing wireless 9-1-1 is a complicated
process, requiring the effective, timely and willing
cooperation of an array of stakeholders, as well as changes
in network infrastructure, PSAP equipment, software and
training. However, as people are gaining experience
with E9-1-1, implementation is accelerating. |
| Who Runs 9-1-1: |
In most cases, 9-1-1 is run by local county
or city governments or public safety departments. Some
states have statewide 9-1-1 coordinators or mandated
requirements. There is no national governing agency for
9-1-1 in the U.S. |
| 9-1-1 Call Response Times: |
It is a common misconception that 9-1-1
responds to calls for help. 9-1-1 answers and processes
calls for help, often dispatching the appropriate responders. While
there is no mandatory standard for the processing time
of 9-1-1 calls, some 9-1-1 centers adhere to the National
Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) standard:
• 30 seconds to answer calls 95% of the time;
• 60 seconds to dispatch the call; and
• 90 seconds total from answering the call to dispatch.
For information on local police, fire and EMS response
times, please contact the appropriate organizations. There
has been no national study of actual 9-1-1 call processing
times. |
| More Information on 9-1-1: |
Finding information and statistics on
9-1-1 is difficult because there is no central collection
point for the information, with the exception of NENA’s
surveys and research. In addition, because 9-1-1 is run
at the city, county, and sometimes state level, everyone
does things a little differently, making it difficult
to compile survey information. |
Source: National
Emergency Number Association (NENA), www.nena.org. While
NENA makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the
information it provides, the Association makes no guarantee
or warranty of the statistics and information provided
herein. |
