WASHINGTON-The Association of Public-safety Communications Officials said it will examine challenges calling 911 using Voice over Internet Protocol and other advanced communications technologies as part of its Project Locate.
Locate is an acronym for Locate Our Citizens At Times of Emergencies. APCO developed Project Locate to help spur deployment of wireless enhanced 911. Public-safety personnel cannot always find people calling 911 when they are calling using VoIP technology because the phone number connected to the caller may not be local.
More than a year ago, the Federal Communications Commission required VoIP service providers to deploy enhanced 911 service, but the agency has not fined VoIP providers that have missed the November deadline.
APCO hopes to improve the location information received by public-safety personnel. The association also aims to develop a public-education campaign to manage expectations about the location information received and used by law enforcement.
In a separate action, APCO hailed its recent Project Locate wireless-accuracy survey, although the group did not release details.
