Issue link: https://let.epubxp.com/i/143936
COMMUNICATIONS California 911] system is going to look like on the build out," Hoffmann says, "whether it's going to be a statewide architecture that would probably take a long, long time to build out—or whether individual Public Safety Answering Points will host their own ability to do these applications through, [for example] SIP, (Session Initiation Protocol)." For San Francisco, because they're a busy call center which employs automatic call distribution, SIP would require a system, routed through an independent server completely separate from the 911 system, and a dedicated dispatcher at a stand-alone station, doing nothing but fielding text- DESIGNED FOR THE REAL WORLD. NACS Vehicles, proven reliability for your Mission-Critical needs. Unsurpassed in service, reliability and capability. With more choices in size and capability than any others, we're a one stop shop for mean, lean command and communications machines. North American Custom Specialty Vehicles, LLC NACS Vehicles 864 Washburn Rd., Bldg B, Melbourne, FL 32934 Ofce: 321-259-0888 Toll Free: 888-595-6227 Fax: 321-259-1505 Web: www.nacsvehicles.com Circle 59 on Reader Service Card 12 Law Enforcement Technology July 2013 www.officer.com to-911 calls. Hoffmann adds that "when wireless rolled out, two percent of our 911 calls were from wireless phones. Now, 70 percent of all of the 911 calls we get are wireless." She anticipates the same thing with text, starting off with a very low volume of text-to-911 calls, which gradually increases as people become more accustomed to the newly acquired capability. So, at least until text-to-911 calls ramp up over time, to pull a dispatcher from a call-taking or dispatching function just to field the odd text-to-911 message would be an inefficient use of staff hours, and a strain on the remaining dispatchers still handling voice calls. Hiring extra dispatchers to staff the station would be cost-prohibitive, because it takes 5.5 employees to staff one 24/7 position (considering days off, vacation, etc.) In other agencies around the nation as well, obstacles in the form of legislation and funding can be impediments to NG911 implementation. NENA's Director of Government Affairs, Trey Forgety, indicates that NENA is helping to "set the stage for NG911 rollouts around the country. But, it's not just a single, nationwide system," and implementation will occur on a state or regional basis, which could take 3 to 5 years or more. Some states' public utilities commissions have had legislation governing 911 operations on the books for "40-plus years, never anticipating wireless," and NENA is serving as a "central clearinghouse for best legislation, participating in policy formulation, and filing comments." And, though each state has a mechanism for funding 911 equipment upgrades (usually through a tax on phone services), because so many states and municipalities have struggled with recession, sometimes dedicated 911 funds have been diverted for other uses. Add to that the fact that federal dollars are scarce, and the task of finding funding is particularly daunting. "There's no separate federal funding for 911," says Fontes, "the Agricultural Department Rural Utility Service has loans," which could help some rural agencies, "but those are loans, and will somehow have to be paid back." According to a report commissioned by the National 911 Program, a full transi-