Emergency Management Services of King County

If you called 9-1-1 on your cell phone, would they know how to locate you? Check out the Project Impact video Cell Phones and 9-1-1 (28.17) to learn about the latest technology in place to help 9-1-1 dispatch centers track and locate wireless 9-1-1 calls. This show also focuses on how cell phone owners can prevent inadvertent calls being made to 9-1-1 by phones that are being improperly carried or programmed. (RealVideo player required.)

Wireless 911 Calls: How they Impact the 911 System

In the Beginning...

Photo: Cell Phone When our Enhanced 9-1-1 system was implemented in 1985, few wireless phones were in use. By the late 1980's, these phones were becoming more popular. At that time, the decision was made to allow the wireless phones to call 9-1-1. Because most of the phones were mounted in vehicles, wireless 9-1-1 calls throughout King County were routed to the Washington State Patrol 9-1-1- center in Bellevue. Approximately 15,000 wireless 9-1-1 calls were received annually during the first few years after they were allowed to call 9-1-1.

Wireless phones are now very common. In addition to being mounted in vehicles, they are carried by people wherever they go. This has had a significant impact on 911 systems. King County's E-911 system now receives about 803,000 wireless 9-1-1 calls per year, which is approximately 46 percent of the total 9-1-1 calls. This amounts to approximately 67,000 calls per month. Due to the effect these calls have on 9-1-1 systems, several developments are taking place to assist in the management of this impact.

What the Legislature Has Done to Help

In 1996 the Washington State Legislature passed a bill that allowed counties to collect 9-1-1 excise tax from wireless phone users in the amount of $0.25 per month. The definition of the existing 9-1-1 tax that was established when our E-911 system was implemented was based on "switched access lines," so wireless phones were exempt from this tax. The revenue generated by the new tax was intended to assist counties in funding the handling of the wireless 9-1-1 calls. In 2002, the Legislature increased the amount of tax to $0.50 per month. The additional funds are to be used to implement full E-911 service for wireless phone users, including the ability to locate wireless 9-1-1 callers. Effective January 2, 2003, both the 9-1-1 excise taxes on wireline and wireless phones were increased to $0.50, which is the maximum authorized by the Legislature.

King County has worked with all of the wireless carriers who offer service here to implement Phase I and Phase II enhanced 9-1-1 service for wireless 9-1-1 callers. This service provides the telephone number of the wireless phone, and the location of the cell site that processed the 9-1-1 call. In addition, technology has been implemented to determine the location of the 9-1-1 caller, and to display the location on a map at the 9-1-1 center. Some wireless carriers have implemented a network solution where special equipment has been added to their network to determine the location of the caller. In this case, all wireless phones accessing that carrier's network will be located. Other carriers have implemented a system that uses GPS chips in the wireless phones to determine location. In this case, wireless phone users will not be located unless they have purchased a new wireless phone that is equipped with the GPS chip for 9-1-1. Wireless phone users should contact their wireless carrier to determine which system their carrier uses.

Where Does Your Portable Cell Phone 9-1-1 Call Go?

The E-911 Program Office has worked with the wireless phone carriers to develop a system to route the wireless 9-1-1 calls by cell site. Calls from those sites that are aimed at the major highways, route to the Washington State Patrol. Calls from sites aimed at local jurisdictions are now routed to the 9-1-1 centers who dispatch for the local police departments. This wireless call routing has worked very effectively, with over 97 percent of wireless 9-1-1 calls being routed to the police agency who provides service for the area the 9-1-1 calls are made from.

Non-Emergency and Accidental 9-1-1 Wireless Calls

What Can You Do To Help?

You should only call 9-1-1 when you need an "emergency response" from police, fire or emergency medical personnel. If general information or non-emergency assistance is needed, the non-emergency telephone numbers of the police and fire departments or other government services should be called. Non-emergency telephone numbers for police and fire departments are printed on the front inside cover of most telephone directories. The numbers are also available along with other government listings in the blue pages.

It is common on vehicle accidents to receive 15 to 20 wireless 9-1-1 calls per accident. If you see an accident and emergency vehicles are already on the scene, there is no need to call 9-1-1.

It is important to remember that when you call 9-1-1 from your wireless phone, the 9-1-1 center may not know where you are. You must be able to give them your location before assistance can be provided. Stay calm and answer all questions. Do not hang up until you are told to do so. If you are disconnected, call back. The 9-1-1 center may not have your wireless phone number, so they may not be able to call you back.

Image: Know your cell well

Know How Your Phone Works

Understand how your phone works after making a 9-1-1 call. Most phones lock into Emergency Mode after calling 9-1-1, and you may not be able to make other calls temporarily. You should know how to unlock your phone.

Accidental Dialing of 9-1-1 on Wireless Phones

There has been a recent focus to educate the public on the problem of wireless phones accidentally calling 9-1-1 when they are bumped or sat on. About 30 percent of wireless 9-1-1 calls are caused by accidental dialing. Wireless phone users can help to prevent accidental 9-1-1 dialing by following the steps below:

LOCK your keypad when the phone is not in use.
TURN OFF the 9-1-1 auto-dial feature if your phone came with this feature activated.
DO NOT program 9-1-1 into your speed dial; 9-1-1 services are already accessible by dialing three digits. It is much more difficult to accidentally dial three digits in the proper sequence than to simply bump one button.
DO NOT give old phones to children as toys. Phones with no service can still dial 9-1-1.

For emergencies call 9-1-1. For non-emergencies call your local police or fire department. If you have any questions about 9-1-1 and wireless please contact our main office.

Emergency Services Prepare & Respond News and Resources Plans & Programs Sound Shake '08 Enhanced 911 program About Us	KING COUNTY HOME \| NEWS \| SERVICES \| DIRECTORY \| CONTACT EMERGENCY SERVICES Office of Emergency Management You're in: Emergency Services print Emergency Management Services of King County If you called 9-1-1 on your cell phone, would they know how to locate you? Check out the Project Impact video Cell Phones and 9-1-1 (28.17) to learn about the latest technology in place to help 9-1-1 dispatch centers track and locate wireless 9-1-1 calls. This show also focuses on how cell phone owners can prevent inadvertent calls being made to 9-1-1 by phones that are being improperly carried or programmed. (RealVideo player required.) Wireless 911 Calls: How they Impact the 911 System In the Beginning... When our Enhanced 9-1-1 system was implemented in 1985, few wireless phones were in use. By the late 1980's, these phones were becoming more popular. At that time, the decision was made to allow the wireless phones to call 9-1-1. Because most of the phones were mounted in vehicles, wireless 9-1-1 calls throughout King County were routed to the Washington State Patrol 9-1-1- center in Bellevue. Approximately 15,000 wireless 9-1-1 calls were received annually during the first few years after they were allowed to call 9-1-1. Wireless phones are now very common. In addition to being mounted in vehicles, they are carried by people wherever they go. This has had a significant impact on 911 systems. King County's E-911 system now receives about 803,000 wireless 9-1-1 calls per year, which is approximately 46 percent of the total 9-1-1 calls. This amounts to approximately 67,000 calls per month. Due to the effect these calls have on 9-1-1 systems, several developments are taking place to assist in the management of this impact. What the Legislature Has Done to Help In 1996 the Washington State Legislature passed a bill that allowed counties to collect 9-1-1 excise tax from wireless phone users in the amount of $0.25 per month. The definition of the existing 9-1-1 tax that was established when our E-911 system was implemented was based on "switched access lines," so wireless phones were exempt from this tax. The revenue generated by the new tax was intended to assist counties in funding the handling of the wireless 9-1-1 calls. In 2002, the Legislature increased the amount of tax to $0.50 per month. The additional funds are to be used to implement full E-911 service for wireless phone users, including the ability to locate wireless 9-1-1 callers. Effective January 2, 2003, both the 9-1-1 excise taxes on wireline and wireless phones were increased to $0.50, which is the maximum authorized by the Legislature. King County has worked with all of the wireless carriers who offer service here to implement Phase I and Phase II enhanced 9-1-1 service for wireless 9-1-1 callers. This service provides the telephone number of the wireless phone, and the location of the cell site that processed the 9-1-1 call. In addition, technology has been implemented to determine the location of the 9-1-1 caller, and to display the location on a map at the 9-1-1 center. Some wireless carriers have implemented a network solution where special equipment has been added to their network to determine the location of the caller. In this case, all wireless phones accessing that carrier's network will be located. Other carriers have implemented a system that uses GPS chips in the wireless phones to determine location. In this case, wireless phone users will not be located unless they have purchased a new wireless phone that is equipped with the GPS chip for 9-1-1. Wireless phone users should contact their wireless carrier to determine which system their carrier uses. Where Does Your Portable Cell Phone 9-1-1 Call Go? The E-911 Program Office has worked with the wireless phone carriers to develop a system to route the wireless 9-1-1 calls by cell site. Calls from those sites that are aimed at the major highways, route to the Washington State Patrol. Calls from sites aimed at local jurisdictions are now routed to the 9-1-1 centers who dispatch for the local police departments. This wireless call routing has worked very effectively, with over 97 percent of wireless 9-1-1 calls being routed to the police agency who provides service for the area the 9-1-1 calls are made from. Non-Emergency and Accidental 9-1-1 Wireless Calls What Can You Do To Help? You should only call 9-1-1 when you need an "emergency response" from police, fire or emergency medical personnel. If general information or non-emergency assistance is needed, the non-emergency telephone numbers of the police and fire departments or other government services should be called. Non-emergency telephone numbers for police and fire departments are printed on the front inside cover of most telephone directories. The numbers are also available along with other government listings in the blue pages. It is common on vehicle accidents to receive 15 to 20 wireless 9-1-1 calls per accident. If you see an accident and emergency vehicles are already on the scene, there is no need to call 9-1-1. It is important to remember that when you call 9-1-1 from your wireless phone, the 9-1-1 center may not know where you are. You must be able to give them your location before assistance can be provided. Stay calm and answer all questions. Do not hang up until you are told to do so. If you are disconnected, call back. The 9-1-1 center may not have your wireless phone number, so they may not be able to call you back. Know How Your Phone Works Understand how your phone works after making a 9-1-1 call. Most phones lock into Emergency Mode after calling 9-1-1, and you may not be able to make other calls temporarily. You should know how to unlock your phone. Accidental Dialing of 9-1-1 on Wireless Phones There has been a recent focus to educate the public on the problem of wireless phones accidentally calling 9-1-1 when they are bumped or sat on. About 30 percent of wireless 9-1-1 calls are caused by accidental dialing. Wireless phone users can help to prevent accidental 9-1-1 dialing by following the steps below: LOCK your keypad when the phone is not in use. TURN OFF the 9-1-1 auto-dial feature if your phone came with this feature activated. DO NOT program 9-1-1 into your speed dial; 9-1-1 services are already accessible by dialing three digits. It is much more difficult to accidentally dial three digits in the proper sequence than to simply bump one button. DO NOT give old phones to children as toys. Phones with no service can still dial 9-1-1. For emergencies call 9-1-1. For non-emergencies call your local police or fire department. If you have any questions about 9-1-1 and wireless please contact our main office.
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	Updated: Aug. 28, 2008