NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: November 23, 2010 Jen Howard: 202-418-0506 Jen.Howard@fcc.gov FCC CHAIRMAN GENACHOWSKI ANNOUNCES STEPS TO BRING 9-1-1 INTO 21st CENTURY Texting, Video Streaming, Data Sharing to 9-1-1 Envisioned For Consumers Washington, D.C. -- At an event with public safety officials from Arlington County, Virginia today, FCC Chairman Genachowski announced that the FCC will take steps to revolutionize America’s 9-1-1 system by harnessing the life-saving potential of text, photo, and video in emergencies. “9-1-1 is an indispensible, live-saving tool,” said FCC Chairman Genachowski. “But today’s 9-1-1 system doesn’t support the communication tools of tomorrow. Even though mobile phones are the device of choice for most 9-1-1 callers, and we primarily use our phones to text, right now, you can’t text 9-1-1. It’s time to bring 9-1-1 into the digital age.” Background: • The FCC’s National Broadband Plan laid out a vision for Next-Generation 9-1-1 that uses cutting-edge technologies to help save lives. 9-1-1, which was established as the national emergency number in 1968, has been a wildly successful lifeline to those in distress. Americans place more than 237 million 9-1-1 calls every year -- 650,000 per day. • Seventy percent of 9-1-1 calls come from mobile phones. But increasingly, consumers are using their mobile phones less to make calls, and more for texting and sending pictures and videos. These new technologies have the potential to revolutionize emergency response by providing public safety officials with critical real-time, on-the-ground information. • Today’s 9-1-1 system is not equipped to take advantage of new technologies. 9-1-1 call centers lack the technical capability to receive texts, photos, videos, and other data. Many 9-1-1 call centers don’t have access to broadband, which makes it difficult to receive incoming data, particularly in large volume. Finally, call center operators have not been trained how to effectively communicate using these new technologies. • The technological limitations of 9-1-1 can have tragic, real-world consequences. During the 2007 Virginia Tech campus shooting, students and witnesses desperately tried to send texts to 9- 1-1 that local dispatchers never received. If these messages had gone through, first responders may have arrived on the scene faster with firsthand intelligence about the life-threatening situation that was unfolding. • Bringing 9-1-1 into the 21st century is one of the FCC’s key public safety priorities. Today, FCC Chairman Genachowski announced that in December he will launch a proceeding, as recommended in the National Broadband Plan, to get public input on how to transition the current system to broadband-enabled, next-generation 9-1-1. This action builds on the FCC’s recent order beefing up 9-1-1 location-accuracy requirements so that first responders can quickly find people who reach out for help on their mobile phones. Benefits of Next-Generation 9-1-1 • Text for Help: Many Americans, particularly those with disabilities, rely on texting as their primary means of communication. In some emergency situations -- especially in circumstances where a call could further jeopardize someone’s life and safety -- texting is the only way to reach out for help. Next-Generation 9-1-1 would allow call centers to receive texts and put them to use. • Real-Time Rapid Response: Mobile video and photos provide first responders with on-the- ground information that helps them assess and address the emergency in real-time. These technologies also help report crime as it is happening. Next-Generation 9-1-1 would expand the multi-media capabilities of 9-1-1 call centers. • Automatic Alerting: Next-Generation 9-1-1 would enable emergency calls to be placed by devices, rather than human beings. Examples of such devices include environmental sensors capable of detecting chemicals, highway cameras, security cameras, alarms, personal medical devices, telematics, and consumer electronics in automobiles. --FCC--