“Call if you can, text if you can’t.” This is the national campaign for the new text-to-911 technology that has officially reached Laramie County and Albany County. It has been in the works for the past four years between Laramie and Albany County. The two counties share a phone system and equipment, which is why they are announcing this together. The Laramie County Combined Communications Center and the Laramie/Albany County Records and Communications Center announced just last week on Sept. 19 that the text-to-911 software was up and running.
The text-to-911 will help the deaf and hard hearing community contact help, and it will allow those in circumstances of domestic violence or kidnapping to contact the police without being too obvious to their adversary. However, there are only 160 characters capable of being sent through this software and no images or videos can be portrayed.
In five to ten years, though, there will be an entire system enhancement, called the Next Generation 911, that will move the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) into the future where it will be capable of receiving videos and photographs as well as other internet applications. According to the Director of Laramie County Combined Communications Center, Glen Crumpton, prank calls or texts through the 911 services are a criminal offense. The department expects some pranks to occur in the future, but is fully prepared to handle them.
“Texters should bear in mind it will take slightly longer to dispatch emergency responders,” said PSAP administrator Steven L. Morgan, “because of the time factor of the processes involved: someone must enter and send the message, the network must deliver the message, the Telecommunicator must read and interpret the message, and may even have to clarify the message before sending a response.”
Phone calls are always preferred due to the fact that it is more efficient and accurate when talking to a dispatcher one to one to relate the situation and location of the danger. Text-to-911 is currently only available to customers of Union Wireless, Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and Viaero Wireless in Laramie County. There will not be an extra charge with these carriers either. There is already a seventy-five cent charge for each phone that goes to the 911 center, which the text-to-911 capability will be added under.
“About 30 letters were sent out to all carriers providing service in Laramie and Albany County,” said Crumpton. “There are only about 4-5 carriers now because they were ready to implement it immediately. Not all carriers told us why they couldn’t do it, but by rules and regulations they have up to 120 days to deliver that service.”
There are only sixteen states that offer this capability currently, Vermont being the first state that activated it. Laramie and Albany County are staying up to date with these exclusive few by adding the text-to-911 to their service as well. This enhancement to the public service will provide a safer home for community members living in Laramie. Crumpton stressed that a phone call is always better, but “text if you can’t call.”
