911
Two fixes, one lifeline: What Congress must do to strengthen 911 in every community
COMMENTARY | Legislation is on the table to improve the technology that call centers rely on, and better classify the workforce. The need for action is urgent.
Tech issues continue to haunt 911 systems
Many still operate using outdated technology and are prone to cyberattacks, leading advocates and lawmakers to call for more funding to make up the shortfall.
Pierce County, Washington violated state law by diverting millions in tax revenue meant to improve 911 calls, state audit finds
Officials repeatedly ignored guidance regarding their $4.5 million purchase to boost law enforcement radio connection at a government building in Tacoma, jeopardizing federal funding.
Idaho approves $15M grant to upgrade emergency response system to Next Generation 911
The Idaho Public Safety Communications Commission approved a $15 million grant to modernize the state’s 911 emergency response system.
911 looks to AI to filter out non-emergency calls
The technology is helping answer non-emergency calls and otherwise free up dispatchers to focus on true emergencies that they otherwise would have needed to forward along.
Inside one state’s effort to digitize 911 to improve public safety
In Arizona, officials hope next generation 911 capabilities will help improve the state’s public safety response and supplement the work of understaffed dispatcher teams.
Local 911 systems face a national emergency
Call takers and dispatchers are working with technology from the 1980s, experts say. But there’s a possible solution.
The nation’s 911 system is on the brink of its own emergency
Federal legislation that could steer billions of dollars into modernizing the patchwork 911 system remains waylaid in Congress.
AI-driven 911 translation saves first responders time, money
A Louisiana parish has turned to the technology to help translate emergency calls from a growing number of non-English speakers and amid a staffing shortfall.
AI bots are helping 911 dispatchers with their workload
Artificial intelligence is quietly revolutionizing non-emergency calls in 911 dispatch centers.
Featured eBooks
State integrates 911 communications, data to improve emergency response
California is combining the data and notification capabilities of Rave Mobile Safety and RapidDeploy, allowing agencies to publish real-time incident data from their computer-aided dispatch systems to responders.
When 911 calls require a mental health response
With the number of 911 calls related to mental health on the rise, a pilot in Durham, North Carolina, looks to integrate mental health case management into the city’s computer-aided dispatch system.
All eyes on the FCC as deadline for 911 overhaul approaches
By enforcing its z-axis requirements and moving toward nationwide deployment, the Federal Communications Commission can fundamentally transform national emergency response.
