Editorial by Former Treasurer Tim Berry
Can your cell phone save your life in an emergency, when every minute matters? As State Treasurer, I chair the Indiana Wireless Enhanced 911 Advisory Board. I am proud that Indiana has been a national leader in deploying wireless 911 technology.
· Allen and Steuben Counties became the first counties in the country to accept phase I wireless 911 calls in 1998 from Centennial Wireless. With phase I, the call is received by 911 dispatchers, along with the caller's call back number and location of the cell tower transmitting the call.
· Lake County became the second county in the country to accept phase II wireless 911 calls in November 2001 from Verizon Wireless. With this expanded technology, the 911-dispatcher receives longitude and latitude points for the location of the caller.
· Indiana is one of only a handful of states where all 911 dispatch centers are receiving phase I calls from at least one cell phone carrier.
· Cingular Wireless has deployed phase I service throughout their entire Indiana coverage area.
While we in Indiana have taken a leadership role in this lifesaving technology, there is still work that needs to be done to ensure that every cell phone will be there for Hoosiers in times of emergency.
Many people purchase a cell phone for use in an emergency, presuming that their cell phone will work exactly like their home phone when calling 911. Although the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated that cell phone companies provide enhanced 911 services, some wireless companies have been slow to comply. Without either phase I or phase II service, your call may not even be received by the 911 emergency dispatch center. As a result, people who purchase cell phones for use in case of emergencies may have a false sense of security that help is close at hand.
Some companies have worked vigorously to deploy phase I technology that shows emergency dispatchers a wireless caller's telephone number and the cell tower location of the caller. However, a cell tower may serve a very large area, leaving callers to attempt to describe to dispatchers how to reach them. This can cause unnecessary delays at a time when every minute matters.
One solution to this problem is for wireless companies and 911 centers to deploy phase II technology as prescribed by the FCC. Phase II service provides more precise location information, enabling rescuers to reach the scene quickly. It has already assisted in the response to emergencies in Lake County.
As Hoosiers begin the busy spring and summer driving season, we have partnered with the American Heart Association to provide you with vital information regarding 911 service for your cell phone. I encourage you to visit our website at www.911coverage.org so that you are better informed and can ask your cell phone provider the question, "Will my cell phone be there for me in an emergency, when every minute matters?".
Tim Berry
Former State Treasurer & Chairman
Indiana Wireless Enhanced 911 Advisory Board
