King County 9-1-1 chosen for national pilot program
New technology allows for text, data, and video communications
King County, WA – King County’s Enhanced 9-1-1 System has been selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation as one of five 9-1-1 centers nationally to participate in a pilot project of Next Generation 9-1-1. This new system would allow 9-1-1 centers to accept emergency calls via text, data, and video. The Next Generation pilot project is expected to begin in April, 2008 and will last approximately three to six months, however full implementation of such a system is still at least two years away.
“Public safety is always our highest priority,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “Our emergency services must stay up-to-date with the latest technology to ensure our residents can receive the help they need in times of crisis.”
The nation’s current 9-1-1 system, based on outdated technology, was designed for landline communications. The growth of both cellular and Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) telephones has underscored the limitations of the current 9‑1‑1 infrastructure. The current system cannot handle the text, data, images, and video of modern personal communications, and must be completely upgraded to make this possible.
King County was selected from over 50 applicants from across the country due to its sound infrastructure, strong relationships with local, state, and national partners, as well as the technical readiness of program staff. The county has been actively working to upgrade the regional 9-1-1 system that serves all of the residents of King County, in both incorporated cities and unincorporated areas, for the past several years.