 It's one of the main reasons people buy wireless phones in the first place: To use in an emergency. And everyday, over 140,000 people use their wireless phones to dial 9-1-1. The problem is that, for some of them, help is more than just a phone call away. Such is the case of a woman who called 9-1-1 on her wireless phone and reached the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office. The woman was screaming at the 9-1-1 call taker that a man had beaten her and was stealing her car. When asked for her location the caller responded hat she did not know. Soon after the line went dead.
Kaufman County Sheriff's Office was able to make contact with Sprint PCS, the caller's wireless provider. Because the caller had an updated wireless phone with a global positioning satellite (GPS) chip, they were able to locate the call within a 1 to 5 mile radius.
The call would have been handled differently had the "locating technology" -- part of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate -- been available. This FCC order requires wireless carriers to outfit their networks and phones with tracking technologies to find callers in distress. In this instance, the 9-1-1 call taker would have had immediate access to an electronic map that would have pin pointed where the call came from within 160 feet.
It is estimated that wireless locating technology will not be accessible nationwide until 2006. Once active, it will mean faster, more immediate service at a time when seconds count.
Contact Information
Jamie Robinson, 911 Contract Specialist
Phone: 817-695-9201| Fax: 817-640-7492
Email |
