In an emergency, texting 911 still not an option for most
NEW YORK — People can livestream their every move on Facebook and chatter endlessly in group chats. But in most parts of the U.S., they still can’t reach 911 by texting — an especially important service during mass shootings and other catastrophes when a phone call could place someone in danger.
Although text-to-911 service — such at that available in Harris County — is slowly expanding, the emphasis there is on “slow.” Limited funds, piecemeal adoption and outdated call-center technology have all helped stymie growth.
Emergency 911 centers stress that a phone call is still the best way to reach them, since calls provide location data and other needed details. But in some cases — if a person has a hearing disability, or when a call might attract the attention of assailants — texting is a far better way to call for help.
The 911 emergency system was developed for landlines. But now about 80 percent of U.S. 911 calls come from cellphones, according to the federal government’s National 911 Program. There is no legal requirement for call centers to offer textto-911 services.
If a center requests the service from mobile companies such as Verizon or Sprint, however, the companies are required to provide it within six months.
More money would speed implementation.
“We need a significant federal grant program to modernize 911 systems across the country,” said Jeff Cohen, chief counsel at the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, an advocacy group.
Congressional legislation could speed adoption of text-to-911, and while two related bills are making their way through Congress, they need more bipartisan support, Cohen said.
Traditionally, 911 call centers have been funded by a combination of state and local money, rather than federal grants. For that reason, technology and adoption vary widely between states, cities and counties.
While some areas may have plenty of money to implement text-to-911 service, “others are cash-strapped cities or communities that would rather spend money on a police car rather than text-to-911,” said Brian Fontes, chief executive officer of the National Emergency Number Association. “When you don’t have the money, you have to prioritize what you do with the money you have.”
The first text-to-911 was sent in 2009 in Iowa. Now, according to data collected by the Federal Communications Commission, more than 1,600 emergency call centers across the nation have configured systems to receive text message requests for 911 services, up from about 650 two years ago. But that’s barely a quarter of the roughly 6,000 overall in the country.
Implementing text-to-911 service usually starts with a state law requiring emergency centers to support it.
Indiana, for example, has state 911 requirements set by the Indiana General Assembly and a state 911 board that oversees the operation of the statewide 911 network, which routes and delivers 911 voice and text messages from people to their local 911 authority. It pays for 911 from monthly end-user surcharges — $1 for landline, wireless and other types of phones, which are collected by phone service providers.
Without state legislation, adopting text-to-911 can be more piecemeal.
But cities and municipalities can decide to support text-to-911 on their own. Los Angeles County, which includes cities like Los Angeles, Burbank and Glendale, has supported text-to-911 since late last year, for example.
Allegheny County in Pennsylvania, where the synagogue shooting took place, does offer text-to-911 service. But high school students hiding from a gunman in Parkland, Fla., last February, had to make whispered 911 calls.