WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International and The Consultant Registry, with the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, conducted a test to show how background sounds, which are important to 911 call-takers, are transmitted over a Voice over Internet Protocol system.
Since VoIP does not handle 911 calls the same way as traditional telephony, the groups are concerned about potential issues concerning calls for assistance. Test results will be presented at APCO International’s Winter Summit in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 1.
The test was conducted in an office and included sounds such as normal human speech, gunfire and residential fire alarms in the background. Three simultaneous calls were placed to the Monroe County, Ga., public-safety answering point via a traditional telephone, a wireless phone, and a VoIP phone using a widely available commercial VoIP service. All three calls were recorded at the PSAP using standard PSAP equipment and then transferred to computer disks.
James P. Cavanagh of The Consultant Registry initiated the test plan based on increasing demand for information about 911 calls and VoIP.
“The test performed at GPSTC will go a long way in clarifying the true impact of VoIP and preparing call-takers for what to expect when handling VoIP-originated 911 calls,” Cavanagh said.
