Myriad obstacles stand in the way of 911’s bright future

Aug 6, 2008 10:02 AM, By Glenn Bischoff

Educational programs exist—and more are coming—to inform the populace on how to properly use the 911 system. “It’s not a panacea in terms of solving all of the issues, but it will go a long way in terms of … what the 911 system needs to be effective. In many cases, it will be that you don’t call.”

Speaking of location, another problem that will need to be addressed is that no such capability currently exists to locate text callers. Flaherty said the intent is to correct this shortcoming.

The biggest challenge that stands in the way of 911’s brighter future is funding. Even today, wireless subscribers have the capability to transmit pictures and video from incidents, but PSAPs have no way of receiving the information--and no way, in many cases, of upgrading to technologies that would allow them to do so.

“Money is a key factor. The technology already is there and, in a lot of respects, the things we’ve described can be done today. We’re talking about a nationwide infrastructure that’s going to have to be involved, so it’s not going to be cheap,” said Tim Lorello, senior vice president for TeleCommunications Systems, a provider of mission-critical wireless data solutions. “You have to do it in steps, and one of the key steps is upgrading the PSAPs, giving them the opportunity to have the funds that allow them to take advantage of some of these new infrastructures.”

Greg Rohde, executive director of the E911 Institute, believes recently enacted legislation that would let federal grant money be used to deploy next-generation systems will help in this regard. Previously, such funds could only be used to upgrade PSAPs to meet the FCC’s Phase 1 or Phase 2 wireless location requirements. Many believe that restriction retarded appropriations from the Enhanced 911 Act of 2004, which authorized up to $1.25 billion over a five-year period for such upgrades, because the nation’s most populated areas already have made the transition to Phase 2.

“In 2004 … the decision was made to limit the scope of the grant program to Phase 1 and Phase 2 wireless, identifying that as a key priority,” Rhode said. “Given where technology has changed so fast that we’re now talking next-generation 911, it doesn’t make any sense to have a program that’s limited to that type of approach. It’s become much broader, looking at a greater range of technologies.”