However, when 9-1-1 calls are made from wireless phones, the call may not be routed to the closest 9-1-1 center, and the call taker doesn't receive the callback phone number or the location of the caller.  This presents life threatening problems due to lost response time, if callers are unable to speak or don't know where they are, or if they don't know their wireless phone callback number and the call is dropped.

Three Phases of Wireless 9-1-1
There are 3 phases that are referred to in implementing "Wireless 9-1-1".  The most basic of these, sometimes called Wireless Phase 0, simply means that when you dial 9-1-1 from your cell phone a call taker at a public safety answering point (PSAP) answers.  The call taker may be at a state highway patrol PSAP, at a city or county PSAP up to hundreds of miles away, or at a local PSAP, depending on how the wireless 9-1-1 call is routed.

Wireless Phase I is the first step in providing better emergency response service to wireless 9-1-1 callers.  When Phase I has been implemented, a wireless 9-1-1 call will come into the PSAP with the wireless phone call back number.  This is important in the event the cell phone call is dropped, and may even allow PSAP employees to work with the wireless company to identify the wireless subscriber.  However, Phase I still doesn't help call takers locate emergency victims or callers.

To locate wireless 9-1-1 callers, Phase II must have been implemented in the area by local 9-1-1 systems and wireless carriers.  Phase II allows call takers to receive both the caller's wireless phone number and their location information.

Our local 911 Center, is what was referred to earlier as Enhanced 9-1-1. That is to say, we can see your phone number and location of your landline or wireline telephone. Now, in order for us to go from Enhanced 9-1-1 to Phase I, the first action to be taken was for the local county government to enact a resolution that provided a means for the purchase and maintenance of the equipment that provides the Phase I information to the 911 Center.

Our next step was to request, from all of the local cellular providers, that they start collecting a $1.00 "9-1-1 surcharge". Of this $1.00 surcharge, the cellular provider keeps a percentage and then sends the remainder to the county of which it was intended. The portion of the surcharge sent to the county is what the county will use to upgrade and maintain the Phase I service. Once the Phase I service is requested and implemented , the resolution provides for an increase in the surcharge to the amount of $1.50.

At this point, the task of requesting and implementing Phase II will begin. On the conclusion of the Phase II install, we will be able to not only see your cell number, but also pinpoint your location. Thus, hopefully, putting an end to some of the tragedies that occur because of not having the equipment we so desperately need for the job.

It is the intention of Laurens County 911 Center to provide the best service to the people of Laurens County. Many times this will involve purchasing new equipment to keep up with today's technology. We hope that you can understand and appreciate our concerns for the health and welfare of the people of Laurens County that come about when attempting to maintain this high standard that we have all come to expect.

If you still have questions or concerns of our "wireless 9-1-1" upgrade, please don't hesitate to call our business office during normal business hours.

To see the Laurens County E9-1-1 Wireless Resolution, click here.