E911 supporters on Tuesday called on the federal government to provide funding to promote adoption of Voice over Internet Protocol systems, Technology Daily reports.
The not-for-profit E911 Institute, which is working with the Congressional E911 Caucus, at a panel discussion said there is a need for uniform standards and security measures to protect E911 from hackers. Panelists said E911 is more flexible than current 911 service because it can transmit additional emergency data. For example, in a disaster, mobile public service answering points used with wireless devices could repair a downed E911 system, Technology Daily reports.
Susan McGurkin, a government affairs specialist with wireless company Intrado, has encouraged states to include E911 in their homeland security plans to get department funding. She added that VoIP is causing a strain on the 911 system. "You can't just Band-Aid the system. You need to rebuild it," McGurkin said.
The Federal Communications Commission has mandated that by Nov. 28, VoIP companies provide location-based information to public safety call centers. "Funding is the critical issue because the PSAPs have stretched budgets," said Paul Obsitnik, vice president of TCS, a wireless equipment company (Hatch, Technology Daily, 2/21).