(posted Dec. 27, 2007) CENTRAL OKLAHOMA WIRELESS 9-1-1 SYSTEM UNVEILED; DESIGNED TO WORK FOR ALL PHONES

 

Two years ago, on December 13, 2005, voters overwhelmingly affirmed their desire for an enhanced 9-1-1 system that works with all phones.  Voters said “yes” in all six counties in the metro region, including Oklahoma, Cleveland, Canadian, Logan, McClain and Grady counties, to approve a 50 cent monthly service charge on cellular phone bills. 

 

Since then, the funding has been used to build out the complex region-wide network to improve the enhanced 9-1-1 system to be more compatible with cellular phones, specifically providing the location of the caller, which is vital in emergency situations.

 

Prior to the 2005 elections, the 9-1-1 Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (9-1-1 ACOG) noted that the proliferation of wireless phones was significantly diluting the value of the region’s 9-1-1 system.  Wireless phones were not providing call-back numbers or locations needed by call-takers to dispatch emergency responders.  The lack of correct and precise data meant that response times were delayed, which sometimes ended in loss of life and property.

 

By 2005, staff was able to assess some basic facts about the situation:

·    Half of the calls coming into local 9-1-1 centers in Central Oklahoma were generated from wireless phones.  In 2005, 338,423 calls for emergency assistance in the region came into 9-1-1 from wireless phones.

·    Wireless 9-1-1 calls often routed to the wrong public safety agency and in Oklahoma, Canadian, Logan and ClevelandCounties, the calls never provided the location of the caller.

·    Ninety-five percent of the time, callers using their wireless phones to call 9-1-1 were not able to clearly articulate where they were. 

·    It took dispatchers three times longer to process wireless calls, due to the lack of information that would normally accompany a landline call.

 

The previous system was funded by a monthly fee on traditional, land-line telephones.  Since wireless technology was a new development, state law did not provide a mechanism to charge cellphone users with a service fee.  With more people “unplugging” their home phones in place of wireless phones, the system was also losing revenue, while the technological void put the public in jeopardy.

 

State authorizing legislation was put in place with HB 1751, which was signed by Governor Brad Henry in June 2005.  The passage of the bill allowed for local elections for citizens to vote on the approval of a 50 cent monthly user fee on cellphone bills to provide local officials the funding to build out the system.

 

After the elections, 9-1-1 ACOG outlined the process which included the acquisition of new equipment, software, increased dispatcher training, and a sophisticated mapping data set that would empower the system.

 

Test calls began in December 2006 and continued throughout the year as the infrastructure was built out.  The first “live” enhanced 9-1-1 wireless calls began last April followed by sequential additions of multiple wireless carriers.  Bringing each of the seven wireless carriers online involved testing each cell phone provider, cell towers, and the directional facing of the towers.  Over 10,000 test calls were made to validate the system.

 

As of October 28, 2007, the city of Oklahoma City completed its wireless testing and deployment. The entire Central Oklahoma region now has enhanced wireless 9-1-1 service.

 

“We are very pleased that citizens recognized the need for a 9-1-1 system that would be inclusive of new technology in an ever-changing telecommunications marketplace,” said Zach Taylor, Executive Director of the 9-1-1 Association of Central Oklahoma Governments. “It was important to upgrade the system to make it work for all phone users in our region, and to bring the system back to its enhanced level of functioning to be a ‘Hotline for Help’ for all callers.”

THANK YOU OKLAHOMA!

OKLAHOMANS VOTE “YES” ON UPGRADING 9-1-1 SYSTEMS

Oklahomans went to the polls on December 13, 2005 and overwhelmingly reaffirmed their desire for an enhanced 9-1-1 system that works with all phones.

Voters in Oklahoma, Cleveland, Canadian, Logan, McClain and Grady counties and 18 other counties across the state voted on the approval of a 50 cent monthly service charge on cellular phone bills.

We are pleased that citizens recognized the need for a 9-1-1 system that is inclusive of new technology, and can keep up with the trends in today’s ever-changing telecommunications marketplace,” said Zach Taylor, Executive Director of the 9-1-1 Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (9-1-1 ACOG), on behalf of the 9-1-1 Saves Lives Committee. The funding will be used to upgrade our system to make it work for all phone users in our region.”

The final tally included:

Canadian County: Yes, 3,129 (77.6%); No, 900 (22.3%)
Cleveland County: Yes, 9,651 (81.9%); no, 2,121 (18.02%)
Grady County: Yes, 1,832 (79.1%); no, 485 (20.9%)
McClain County: Yes, 1,569 (82.5%); no, 332 (17.5%)
Oklahoma County: Yes, 20,673 (79.2%); no, 5,419 (20.7%)

In Logan County, there were two propositions, one to provide 9-1-1 landline service to parts of the county not presently served. That proposition passed with 1,409 “Yes” votes (75.9%) to 446 “No” votes (24%). Proposition 2, which was the cell phone bill, passed with 621 “Yes” votes (73.3%) to 226 “No” votes (26.6%).

Cellular customers can expect the 50 cents to be added in spring 2006.

The campaign in the Oklahoma City metro area was led by a coalition of stakeholders, led by former mayors Ron Norick, Ann Taylor and Dick Reynolds.

The committee will keep the public apprised of system improvements as milestones are reached in the future.

For complete election results in all 24 counties, please visit the "news resources" page.