The four largest wireless carriers in the United States have reached an agreement with the Federal Communication Commission to implement 911 emergency calling by 2014.
The agreement was signed last week between the FCC and AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile—the wireless companies that service over 90 percent of the United States. Emergency texting has been around since 2009, when it was first rolled out by a call center in Iowa.
More call centers are currently getting the proper technology upgrades and training to service 911 texts. All call centers are expected to be up and running by May of 2014. When a person in distress sends a text to 911, the call center will respond and let the texter know whether or not it can help. If the call center is not upgraded, the texter will receive an automated response directing them to call.
The call center upgrades will be beneficial to individuals who are unable to call while in danger, as well as people with disabilities.
[via Huffington Post]
