According to voluntary reporting by centers to the Federal Communications Commission, a little more than 40% (about 2,583 of the approximately 6,100) of communications centers in the United States were estimated to have implemented some method to receive text-to-911 by July 2020. This is up from 23% in 2018 — double-digit growth in two years. But that means six of every 10 emergency communications centers still were either exploring a solution or have yet to begin considering how to connect their telecommunicators and callers via text.

Text-to-911 Resources


News

Text-to-9-1-1, The Past, Present and Future
Text-to-9-1-1 brings with it many complex issues for which practitioners, standards bodies and private industry must all work together to craft solutions to ensure that text-to-9-1-1 provides the same level of service as voice-to-9-1-1.
August 14, 2017

APCO Statement on FCC Announcement to Address Text-to-911 at the August Open Meeting

APCO President Gigi Smith said, “We applaud the Commission for moving forward on this important item and look forward to reviewing the order and further notice after it is adopted.”

July 18, 2014

Public Safety & Emerging Technology: NG9-1-1, Text to 9-1-1 & More

“Don’t be scared; be smart,” Mark S. Adams, director, principal architect networks and communications, Northrop Grumman Information Systems, advised attendees of the APCO International Emerging Technology Forum on Jan. 30. Although Adams was specifically speaking to the need to secure data and networks, the advice could apply to every topic addressed during the forum. Wednesday morning’s speakers focused on the next generation PSAP, NG9-1-1 and the new public safety ecosystem. The increasing amount of data that will be available to 9-1-1 PSAPs and managing that data were major concerns echoed by all the speakers. A common theme stated eloquently by…

January 31, 2013

APCO Joins in Voluntary Industry Agreement to Offer Text to 9-1-1 Services

The nation’s four largest wireless carriers, joined by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), announced yesterday an agreement on a voluntary commitment to offer text-to-9-1-1 services. APCO International helped ensure the agreement will best meet the needs of the public safety community and other stakeholders.

December 7, 2012

SMS Text to 9-1-1: Do You Have a Game Plan?

Recent announcements that several major carriers will be launching national-level solutions for sending SMS texts to 9-1-1 have created a lot of excitement and trepidation in our industry. Technology improvements and changes often have that effect. We are excited to move forward and do “new things,” but at the same time we are concerned about the operational impact that new technologies will have on our PSAPs and personnel. The concept of sending text calls to 9-1-1 is not new. The reality that this capability is now around the corner, however, is hitting home with many agencies. Does your PSAP have…

August 10, 2012

APCO Releases White Paper: Text Messages in a PSAP Environment

The APCO Emerging Technologies Committee is pleased to offer a white paper for our members: Text Messages in a PSAP Environment. This paper evaluates interim 9-1-1 text solutions, including the technologies used, lessons learned from early deployments both in the United States and in Europe and the status of interim options.  The intent of this paper is to provide the reader with an overview of current text technologies that should be considered as we transition to Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) solutions. Download it here: APCO Emerging Tech Text-to-911 Final

August 2, 2012