Hochul to push for 911 funding

NORTH TONAWANDA, NY — As the North Tonawanda Common Council sets aside moving its police dispatch service to Niagara County control, Rep. Kathy Hochul said she will soon introduce new legislation that will enhance 911 communications systems.

The measure would require the Federal Communications Commission to mandate wireless phone carriers to send a universal error message to consumers who unsuccessfully send text messages to 911, bringing texting capabilities more in line with modern lifestyles.

If passed, the bill would also direct the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to dedicate at least 10 percent of existing emergency communications grants to Next Generation 911 upgrades for Public Safety Answering Points.

Hochul said while some phone carriers have voluntarily started replying to 911 texts with error messages, there is currently no existing law requiring wireless phone carriers to send these messages.

“In an emergency, Americans reach out to 911 for help, but sometimes they’re not able to make a phone call – that’s why we must update our 911 call centers to receive text messages,” Hochul said.

More than 7 out of 10 cell phone users send or receive text messages, making this legislation even more useful to a majority of Americans, according to the Pew Research Center.

“Think about the different situations where a call can’t be made like a burglary or when you’re physically incapable of making a call, or even when your cell phone battery is about to die,” Hochul said. “A short text message could get the pertinent information to the authorities quickly and quietly. My bill will provide the necessary resources to communities that need the upgrades to their call centers to accept text messages.”

Hochul, who made the announcement at the Lancaster Police Department on Monday, said the country has the technology already in place and would simply have to refocus grant money to bring the project to fruition.

“Without increasing government spending one dime we can update our call centers and help save American lives,” she said.

Read the story here.

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