By Tanya Palta, TMCnet Contributing Writer
Technology is always changing and growing, making it difficult for state- run entities to keep up, for instance, the Nation’s 911 network, which has not been able to incorporate the latest advances made in the field of technology and communications. This is highlighted by the fact that all phone calls being made in the United State, regardless of being wireline, wireless or VoIP, utilizes the digital networks. The only exception to the rule is when these calls are made to aging 911 networks, which proves that there is a need for a complete makeover.
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Author, Jim Quackenbush of Urgent Communications points out the need to do away with the analog network and adopt the next-generation 911 (NG-911) architecture.
Quackenbush, stated, “Every day, emergency calls are made from one coast to the next. For the most part, they are answered and processed by the appropriate PSAP in a reasonable amount of time, and the appropriate help is dispatched. However, the aging analog system cannot keep up with the advancements taking place in modern communications. The bottom line is that the legacy system must be upgraded to the much-discussed, IP-based, next-generation 911 (NG-911) architecture, and the work must begin as soon as possible in order to keep pace with the way people communicate today.”
The NG architecture has already found favor with the state of Washington and the implementation is underway. Given that Washington has 69 PSAPs in 39 counties and a population of almost seven million people, the Washington State NG-911 Advisory Committee realized they were failing to serve the people, especially the 450,000 deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHOH) citizens. For them, text messaging to communicate was a more feasible option, but the legacy 911 systems would not allow them to text an emergency message to 911. At this time, the committee realized the importance of revamping the 911 networks and modernizing it, so that it can support picture- and video-sharing methods as well.
The entire process has not been easy; the help of vendor groups was sought. Another key task was to find out the projected cost of the initiative, and this has to be done by an objective method. The 911 tax was only funding about 38 percent of the total cost of the legacy 911 communications system. To get sufficient funds, the committee proposed increasing the state 911 tax by $0.05 per subscriber per month and increasing the local tax by $0.20 per subscriber per month. They also proposed adding VoIP customers to our revenue base, which has not been taxed in the past.
Read more: http://www.tmcnet.com/channels/e911-hosted-solutions/articles/292592-911-network-going-digital-washington-state.htm#ixzz1wZc0cPeR
Read more: http://www.tmcnet.com/channels/e911-hosted-solutions/articles/292592-911-network-going-digital-washington-state.htm#ixzz1wZbl52xP
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