NCJ Number
67065
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT IS THE FIRST IN A SERIES PREPARED BY THE GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE ON THE EXPANDED 911 EMERGENCY SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED FOR THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY.
Abstract
IT INCLUDES A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED 911 SYSTEM, A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF NONRECURRING AND RECURRING CHARGES, AND A LISTING OF POLICIES THAT MIGHT GOVERN THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE SYSTEM. THE PROPOSED 911 SYSTEM IS BASED ON SELECTIVE ROUTING, WHICH ROUTES A PHONE CALL DIRECTLY TO THE EMERGENCY AGENCY, AND SELECTIVE TRANSFER, WHICH ALLOWS THE ATTENDANT AT THE DESIGNATED AGENCY TO FORWARD THE CALL TO OTHER EMERGENCY AGENCIES. BOTH FUNCTIONAL FEATURES ARE MADE POSSIBLY BY A 3A PROCESSOR, A COMPUTER WHICH IS AUXILIARY TO THE ELECTRONIC SWITCHING MACHINE. DEVELOPED AS PART OF SOUTHWESTERN BELL'S PROPOSED DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, THE 3A PROCESSOR HAS A FILE OF PHONE NUMBERS AND THE EMERGENCY AGENCIES SERVING EACH NUMBER. THE DESIGN OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM RESTS ON SEVERAL ASSUMPTIONS: THAT EVERY MUNICIPALITY WILL PARTICIPATE, THAT POLICE DEPARTMENTS WILL BE THE PRIMARY ANSWERING POINTS, THAT GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY AREAS OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES WILL PROVIDE COMPLETE AND UPDATED STREET INFORMATION, THAT THE PROPOSED SYSTEM IS AN OPTIMUM ONE, AND THAT SOME OPTIONAL FEATURES CAN BE ADDED BY THE EMERGENCY DISPATCHING AGENCIES. BACKUP PROCEDURES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SYSTEM DESIGN. ALL POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY AND COUNTY SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE 911 SYSTEM, AND AGREE TO PROHIBIT ADMINISTRATIVE CALLS ON 911 PHONE LINES, TO FORWARD EMERGENCY CALLS, AND TO ACCEPT UNIFORM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. IN ADDITION, ALL DISPATCHING AGENCIES WILL BE ASKED TO SIGN AN INDEMNITY AGREEMENT. BECAUSE THE NUMBER AND LOCAION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE ANSWERING POINTS WILL DIFFER FROM THOSE IN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, THE COSTS FOR THE RECURRING ITEMS WILL DIFFER. IN ADDITION, ACTUAL CHARGES ARE ESTIMATED TO VARY AS MUCH AS 15 PERCENT AND THE DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND JURISDICTIONAL FILE ARE YET TO BE DEVELOPED. BECAUSE MOST OF THE INITIAL COSTS WILL BE FOR THE JURISDICTIONAL FILE AND DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, COUNTY SYSTEM DESIGN EXPERT SHOULD MEET WITH BELL REPRESENTATIVES TO EVALUATE THESE ITEMS. AN APPENDIX LISTS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT EXPANDED 911. TABULAR DATA ON SYSTEM COSTS ARE INCLUDED. (AOP)