[July 22, 2011] Congresswoman Kathy Hochul Calls For Change In 9-1-1 Communications System Tweet Jul 22, 2011 (Congressional Documents and Publications/ContentWorks via COMTEX) -- WASHINGTON, DC - In response to information learned during a House of Representatives Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing, Congresswoman Kathy Hochul today sent letters to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and relevant stakeholders urging them to take immediate action to update the nation's 9-1-1 service system to include the receipt of text messages. Hochul also invited them to a September 2011 meeting to discuss the timetable for implementation of this critical program. She has also developed an action plan that includes meetings with public safety officials in the 26th Congressional District to discuss the feasibility of a pilot program for her constituents. "When threatened with a dire emergency that puts lives at risk, our citizens deserve to have every form of technology at their disposal in order to communicate pertinent information to the police," said Congresswoman Hochul. "Our 9-1-1 emergency response system must be updated to accept text messages and video messages to take into account the situations that don't allow for a phone call. This change can literally save lives." Despite a decade-long Congressional effort to streamline emergency response and communications systems, Congress still faces the challenge of an outdated 9-1-1 service. While 70% of the 240 million 9-1-1 calls made annually come from mobile phones and text messaging is rapidly becoming one of America's most popular modes of communication, current 9-1-1 public safety answering points still cannot accommodate text messages, photos, or videos. The 2007 Virginia Tech shootings, during which several students tried unsuccessfully to send text messages to 9-1-1, made clear the need to update emergency call centers. Congresswoman Hochul today encouraged top officials at relevant organizations to push forward on the research and implementation of an IP-enabled, broadband-based public service answering point. She noted that the costs of the endeavor could be reduced by swift action that leverages grant-funded developing technologies. Besides allowing users to send text messages, the updated 9-1-1 system could facilitate communication between disabled people and emergency responders and may also allow emergency responders to send warning alerts to mobile phones in a targeted area. Hochul added, "A revamped 9-1-1 system would not only allow our citizens to more effectively communicate with the police, but it would also help those disabled citizens who previously had to go through tedious steps to contact the authorities a quicker form of contacting needed help. "The delay in adapting this widely accepted mode of communication must be remedied in order to ensure the safety of the American people in countless situations." A copy of the letter Congresswoman Hochul sent to Secretary Napolitano can be found here. http://hochul.house.gov/sites/hochul.house.gov/files/documents/Letter%20to%20Secretary%20Napolitano.pdf Read this original document at: http://hochul.house.gov/press-release/congresswoman-kathy-hochul-calls-change-9-1-1-communications-system [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]