As of the end of last year, four out of five emergency call centers in the United States still didn't have the technology to pinpoint the location of a wireless caller.

By the end of 2005, roughly eight years after the federal government ordered such technologies and four years past the initial government deadline — only about 50% will have this capability, known as wireless E-911, according to a Feb. 6 briefing conducted by the National Emergency Number Association.

At the briefing held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., NENA described a year-long series of studies and leadership consultations on the steps needed to accelerate upgrades to the nation's 911 services, particularly E-911. NENA's Strategic Wireless Action Team launched the initiative in November 2002 to help speed wireless E-911 implementation at the nation's 6,000 emergency call centers.

“Although wireless E-911 technology is readily available, a variety of technical, policy and funding problems have complicated its adoption. An inability to locate wireless callers has been a factor in a growing number of tragic accidents and crimes,” the report said.

The analysis, conducted for NENA by the Monitor Group, projects the number of call centers with precise location capability for wireless callers could grow to 80% by 2010. Despite that progress, NENA said the “incomplete patchwork of protection will continue to leave millions of wireless callers in potential danger if they can't tell dispatchers where they are.”

Another survey conducted for SWAT revealed that Americans are unanimous in placing a very high priority on upgrading the 911 system. “A survey of 2,712 Americans showed that nearly 60% believe that today's homeland security environment increases the importance of the 911 system. After hearing a description of wireless E-911, 99% said it was important that this technology be provided as rapidly as possible, with 75% calling it ‘very important.’

“Survey respondents also rated E-911 at least as important as a number of other public policy priorities, including education (59% say 911 is more important), universal health insurance (65%), highway maintenance (75%), and homeland security (75%).”

Richard Taylor, president of NENA and executive director of the North Carolina Wireless 911 Board, expressed pride in the initiative but warned that more work was needed. “Now it's up to an even broader set of leaders to make E-911 a top priority and get the job done, for the sake of our families, our communities and our homeland security,” he said.

NENA's briefing came in the midst of Congressional action. In November, the House approved H.R. 2898 that would provide for federal matching grants to states for 911 system. A Senate companion bill, S. 1250, was expected to come to a vote soon. NENA supported both bills and was working with the sponsors to finalize the legislation.

Help for Local PSAPs

The results of NENA/SWAT's first year also produced “work documents” specifically designed to help local public safety answering points with the E-911 challenge. These documents, available at www.nena.org, include:

• First detailed estimate of E-911 infrastructure requirements and costs, both current and projected, as well as time frame and costs of various solutions;
• Detailed Operational Evaluation Checklist for PSAPs;
• PSAP Staffing Guidelines Report to assist PSAPs in evaluating their staffing and budget needs;
• Analysis of more than 400 counties and tribal nations that have only a basic voice response on any caller's location or call back number;
• Specific and customized technical assistance to more than a dozen states, localities and Native American tribes; and
• Report reflecting the state of the dialogue among 911 system stakeholders, including major telecommunications carriers, public safety groups, 911 technology providers, and government leaders.