Enhanced 911

Enhanced 911 or E911 is a system used in North America to automatically provide the caller's location to 911 dispatchers. 911 is the universal emergency telephone number in the region.

Overview

Enhanced 911 is a service of the North American Numbering Plan which provides the caller's phone number and address to the 911 operator. This is particularly useful in situations where the caller is unable to speak or the call is disconnected.

History

The concept of Enhanced 911 was first proposed in the United States in 1967. The first 911 call was made in Haleyville, Alabama in 1968. The system was gradually implemented across the country over the next several decades.

Function

When a call is made to 911, the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) receives the call. The PSAP is equipped with Automatic Number Identification (ANI) and Automatic Location Identification (ALI) capabilities. The ANI displays the number of the calling party to the 911 operator. The ALI displays the caller's address and the emergency service agencies designated for that address.

Implementation

The implementation of Enhanced 911 involves the cooperation of several entities, including local governments, telephone companies, and emergency service agencies. The telephone company provides the ANI and ALI capabilities, while the local government is responsible for maintaining the database of addresses and emergency service agencies.

Challenges

There are several challenges associated with the implementation and operation of Enhanced 911. These include the need for accurate and up-to-date address databases, the need for reliable and fast data transmission, and the need to accommodate new technologies such as Voice over IP (VoIP) and mobile phones.

See also

• 911
• North American Numbering Plan
• Public Safety Answering Point
• Automatic Number Identification
• Automatic Location Identification
• Voice over IP

Enhanced 911 Resources
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