STUDY OF THE SINGLE EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER

• NCJ Number: 67093
• Author(s): K R BORDNER; J S HOUSTON
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 31 pages
• Grant Number(s): GK-11358
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation; Franklin Institute Research Laboratories
• Corporate Author: Franklin Institute Research Laboratories
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AND PENNSYLVANIA'S FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, A STUDY WAS MADE TO DETERMINE IF A NEED EXISTED FOR A SINGLE EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER AND IF ONE COULD BE IMPLEMENTED.

Abstract

THE STUDY INVESTIGATED THE OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF BOTH AGENCIES AND USERS OF A SINGLE EMERGENCY NUMBER AND EXAMINED THE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY THROUGH THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE IMPOSED UPON THE COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY. TO ASSESS THE OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING EMERGENCY SERVICES, THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE RESEARCH LABORATORIES (FIRL) DEVELOPED A MAIL-BACK QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGNED TO SATISFY TWO OBJECTIVES: (1) DETERMINE ON A LARGE SCALE THE NEEDS AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A SINGLE EMERGENCY NUMBER AS SEEN BY THOSE WHOSE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS WOULD BE MOST AFFECTED, AND (2) DETERMINE THE SYSTEMS, FACILITIES, AND PERSONNEL NEEDED TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES REQUIRED FOR IMPLEMENTATION. A TOTAL OF 210 QUESTIONNAIRES WERE SENT TO AGENCIES SUCH AS FIRE AND POLICE, SHERIFFS, AND POISON AND CONTROL CENTERS. RESULTS INDICATED THAT OBJECTIONS TO THE SYSTEM AROSE BECAUSE MANY INDIVIDUALS DID NOT HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE SINGLE EMERGENCY NUMBER CONCEPT. FIRL FOUND THAT THOSE WITH EXPERIENCE WITH THE SYSTEM WERE IN FAVOR OF IT AND THOSE WITH NO EXPERIENCE WERE OPPOSED TO IT. MANY PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS FOUND FAULT WITH A SINGLE NUMBER SYSTEM WHEN THE FAULT ACTUALLY LAY WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. FIRL CONCLUDED THAT A NATIONAL PROGRAM OF PUBLIC EDUCATION SHOULD BE INITIATED TO INFORM PEOPLE OF WHAT A SINGLE TELEPHONE NUMBER IS, WHAT IT CAN DO, AND WHAT IT CANNOT DO. IT ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS CONSIDER EVALUATING THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES TO DETERMINE IF, IN FACT, THE INABILITY TO WORK WITH A SINGLE NUMBER CONCEPT IN AN ORGANIZATIONAL PROBLEM RATHER THAN A TECHNOLOGICAL ONE. ORGANIZATIONS MUST BE PREPARED TO ADJUST TO INNOVATIONS IN TECHNOLOGY WHEN THESE INNOVATIONS ARE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (MJW)