What is Wireless 9-1-1?

In most areas of North America, citizens have basic or enhanced 9-1-1 service from their landline, or wireless phones in their homes or workplaces. Basic 9-1-1 means that when the three-digit number is dialed, a call taker/dispatcher in the local public safety answering point (PSAP), or 9-1-1 center, answers the call. The emergency and its location are communicated by voice between the caller and the call taker. In areas serviced by Enhanced 9-1-1, the local 9-1-1 center has equipment and database information that allow the call taker to see the caller's phone number and address on a display. This lets them quickly dispatch emergency help, even if the caller is unable to communicate where they are or what the emergency is.

However, when 9-1-1 calls are made from wireless phones, the call may not be routed to the closest 9-1-1 center, and the call taker doesn't receive the callback phone number or the location of the caller. This presents life threatening problems due to lost response time, if callers are unable to speak or don't know where they are, or if they don't know their wireless phone callback number and the call is dropped.

Wireless 9-1-1 Location Accuracy

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) does not require Wireless 9-1-1 call location accuracy to match that of Landline 9-1-1 calls. The FCC set the accuracy level for handset based technologies as 50 meters for 67% of Wireless 9-1-1 calls and 150 meters for 95% of all Wireless 9-1-1 calls.  Rock County Wireless Providers utilize the handset- based technologies. The difference in Landline 9-1-1 call and Wireless 9-1-1 call accuracy is further enlarged at times because wireless subscribers may be mobile at the time of calling 9-1-1.

Wireless 9-1-1 Services in Rock County

With the aid of the State of Wisconsin Wireless 9-1-1 Grant funding program, the Rock County Communications Center has implemented the necessary equipment within its Communications Center to coordinate Wireless 9-1-1 calls received from the predominant Wireless Providers servicing Rock County. Most of the Wireless 9-1-1 call locations have been accurate enough for public safety responders to find the 9-1-1 caller. The Communications Center is totally reliant upon the Wireless Providers for the location of the wireless 9-1-1 caller and is utilizing state of the art mapping and aerial photography software to assist public safety agencies in locating Wireless 9-1-1 callers.