[Vision2020] Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile agree to collectively push text-to-911 capabilities by 2014

[Kenneth Marcy]

We've been hearing about new capabilities for emergency 911 services 
<http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/fcc-details-plans-to-bring-texting-photos-and-video-to-911-serv/> 
for years, but it looks like the industry is ready to move as one to 
make text-to-911 a reality across the US. The Big 4 wireless carriers, 
as well as The 911 Association and the Association for Public-Safety 
Communications Officials International has submitted an agreement to the 
FCC that outlines plans to work together on standards, procedures and 
technology deployments that will provide a "seamless introduction" of 
the tech across the US.


http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/06/verizon-atandt-sprint-and-t-mobile-agree-to-collectively-push-te/ 


They're not guaranteeing it will be available everywhere in two years, 
but the specific signposts noted are support for bounce-back 
notifications by June 30th, 2013 that tell texters when the service 
isn't available in their area and a "commitment" to nationwide rollouts 
by May 15th 2014. So far, efforts 
<http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/06/att-tennessee-text-to-911-trials/> 
to make your thumbs more useful in an emergency have been disjointed 
<http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/05/verizon-announces-text-to-911-service/>, 
but a concerted effort by industry giants should let you avoid busy 
signals and dropped calls at the worst possible time 
<http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/22/verizon-dropped-10-000-emergency-calls-during-january-snowstorm/> 
sooner rather than later. Check out a press release from the group, as 
well as a word from the FCC, which will consider the proposal on 
December 12th, after the break or the agreement itself in PDF form at 
the source link.

More of the article at the engadget link.


Ken
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