NCJ Number
67524
Journal
BULLETIN Dated: (NOVEMBER 1970) Pages: 14-15,22-23
Date Published
1970
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE EXISTING 911 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER SERVICE, IN WHICH BELL TELEPHONE IS THE DOMINANT CARRIER, IS CRITICIZED BY AN INDEPENDENT TELEPHONE COMPANY, AND CHANGES ARE RECOMMENDED.
Abstract
PUBLISHED BY AN INDEPENDENT TELEPHONE COMPANY, THIS STUDY CALLS FOR REVIEW, REVISION, AND UPDATING OF THE EMERGENCY TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURE. IN LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS TELEPHONE OPERATORS HAVE REFERRAL PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBERS OF PHYSICIANS, AMBULANCE SERVICES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS. SOME OF THESE SERVICES INVOLVE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION PROBLEMS. IN SMALL, SCARCELY POPULATED AREAS, WHERE PUBLISHED EMERGENCY REPORTING NUMBERS ACTIVATE AUDIBLE ALARMS, POTENTIAL PROBLEMS INCLUDE PRANKSTERS AND SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. THE NECESSITY FOR A COORDINATED PLAN TO INSURE SYSTEM COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN BELL TELEPHONE AND THE INDEPENDENT TELEPHONE COMPANIES IS STRESSED. PROBLEMS OF COORDINATION BETWEEN DOMINANT CARRIER AND INDEPENDENT TELEPHONE COMPANIES ARE LISTED. CRITICISMS BY THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE WITH RESPECT TO THE 911 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER SERVICE ARE QUOTED. LOCAL GOVERNMENT JURISDICTIONS PLANNING FOR EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SERVICES IN THE OPERATING AREAS OF INDEPENDENT TELEPHONE COMPANIES ARE URGED TO CONTACT THE COMPANY ABOUT SERVICES TO INSURE THE SUCCESSFUL ESTABLISHMENT OF A COORDINATED EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SERVICE.