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9-1-1 Board News

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FCC Requires "Bounce-Back" to Consumers where text to 9-1-1 not available

Wireless Carriers and Providers of Interconnected Text Messaging Must Send “Bounce-Back” Messages to Consumers Who Text 911 Where the Service is Not Offered

Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission has adopted rules requiring wireless carriers and certain other text messaging providers to send an automatic “bounce-back” text message to consumers who try to text 911 where text-to-911 service is not available. The FCC’s requirement will help protect the public by substantially reducing the risk of consumers sending a text message to 911 and mistakenly believing that 911 authorities have received it. Instead, consumers will receive an immediate response that text-to-911 is not supported and to contact emergency services by another means, such as by making a voice call or using telecommunications relay services (if deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled) to access 911.

Full Story - http://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-adopts-rules-help-consumers-during-text-911-transition

Posted: 5/27/13 - 8:20am - Read this full Article
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Wireless 9-1-1 Accuracy Exclusions

The exclusion reports have been compiled by NASNA and copied here for the convenience of Alabama PSAPs and other interested parties. The table lists the Counties where exclusions are taken, by which carrier, and the reason.

View the exceptions taken in Alabama by PSAP

Posted: 3/12/13 - 7:21pm - Read this full Article
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FCC Announces Text to 9-1-1

Washington, D.C. – FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced today that the nation’s four largest wireless carriers – AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile – have agreed to accelerate the availability of text-to-911, with major deployments expected in 2013 and a commitment to nationwide availability by May 15, 2014.

Text-to-911 will provide consumers with enhanced access to emergency communications in situations where a voice call could endanger the caller, or a person with disabilities is unable to make a voice call. Text-to-911 will be a complement to, not a substitute for, voice calls to 911 services, and consumers should always make a voice call to 911 during an emergency if they can.

In addition, to help eliminate consumer confusion while text-to-911 capability is being phased-in, the carriers have committed to provide an automatic “bounce back” text message to notify consumers if their attempt to reach 911 via text message was unsuccessful because this service is not yet available in their area. Such a message would instruct the recipient to make a voice call to a 911 center. The four carriers will fully implement this “bounce back” capability across their networks by June 30, 2013.

The full text of the press release is available on the FCC Website

Posted: 12/10/12 - 8:18am - Read this full Article
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