911 ResponsAbility

InterAct Provides Ideal Solutions for Newly-Introduced Colorado Bill

On March 26, 2009, Colorado State Senator Bill Cadman (R-CO-10) introduced SB09-255, a bill that proposes the creation of the Colorado Shared Services Authority. While the bill has not seen much legislative activity yet, it could have huge benefits to the 9-1-1 and emergency communications industry.

Some of the bill’s key provisions include calling for the consolidation, streamlining and sharing of data and information among state entities. Specifically, the bill authorizes the development of an innovative shared services delivery model that provides shared services to eligible public sector entities; the establishment of one or more statewide data centers; the establishment of one or more statewide call centers for utilization by eligible public sector entities that provides technology-enabled tiered call center services cost effectively; the facilitation of shared services through agreements with eligible public sector entities and public-private partnerships. The bill specifically mentions “shared services” for law enforcement, including but not limited to computer-aided dispatch, records management systems, E9-1-1 and support for mobile computing devices in patrol cars, as well as governmental notification systems such as 2-1-1 and 3-1-1.

If SB09-255 becomes law, InterAct could help Colorado implement a shared data network quickly with our next generation computer aided dispatch system, InterActCADng. InterActCADng is a hosted or premise based application that can be distributed from a central location and enable flexible multiagency configurations. With its multi-tenant environment, each agency has the ability to customize the system to their specific requirements and processes (i.e., unique event codes and response lineups).

InterActCADng’s peer-to-peer architecture means that even if the main server or network connection goes down, the individual agencies and workstations will remain operational and can even communicate with each other until the connection is reestablished. Imagine not having to resort to the “dark ages” of dispatching via pen and paper if the CAD server goes down!

This latest piece of legislation is yet another step in the right direction for the industry as a whole. While tiered call centers and/or shared services are not the right fit for every state, county or municipality, they are great options to have on the table. Considering how far the technology has come in just the last several years, tiered, integrated data sharing on a widespread scale are now not just feasible, but promising for so many parts of the county. We will continue to follow the progress of this legislation to see how it is received by the Colorado State Senate.

Text for Help to 9-1-1 – Location Based SMS

It’s no secret that text messaging is popular. The CTIA, the wireless association for wireless telecommunications industry, finds that 75 billion text messages were sent in June 2008 alone.  This a staggering increase from the 7.2 billion that were sent just three years prior and the number this year is suspected to approach half a trillion text message a month soon.

It comes as no surprise that with the global popularity of SMS data communications, most people in the United States believe they can text 9-1-1 to get help. Unfortunately, that is not the case – yet.

The promise of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) services does making texting and even sending images and video to emergency response centers possible.  This week, TeleCommunications Systems (TSYS), the leading provider of SMS services to mobile carriers, announced that it is working on location capabilities for text messages. The use of cell broadcast accommodates SMS to a specific location which would make it much easier for 9-1-1 dispatchers to locate and send emergency personnel to a cell phone caller’s location just by receiving a text message.  You can read more about TSYS plans for development here.

With the tragic and horrifying school and campus shootings in recent years, it is apparent that younger generations who are accustomed to texting, sending photos and even videos from their mobile phones believe that 9-1-1 services can receive this information.  While the SMS location technology is not yet in place and the telephone companies have not yet figured out how to route SMS, video, and image data to the appropriate PSAP, the telephony technology does exist to transmit this kind of data. 

The SolaCom E9-1-1 Emergency Network is an IP Enabled system that combines the LibertySHIELD Selective Router, an open Positioning Center (VPC) interface, and cost-effective EG200 VoIP termination, which will allow the transmission of SMS, image, and even video once telephone companies and the government figure out how to effectively design, implement and regulate the transmission of this information to the appropriate 9-1-1 center.

Having an IP Enabled system is preferable to the more prevalent IP Capable System because when a 9-1-1 call from an IP Capable provider is sent to the Telco router, it is converted from IP into an analog signal to travel over the Centralized Automatic Message Accounting (CAMA) trunk system to the controller at the PSAP where it is then converted back into IP for delivery to the call taker. During CAMA conversion, important supplemental data like call information, geolocation, and other types of media such as video is stripped away and thus cannot be delivered to the PSAP.

In contrast, IP Enabled systems do not require a call to be converted into an analog signal.  As a result, data is not removed and the PSAP can receive additional potentially life saving information. IP Enabled systems are designed on an open architecture and calls can be transferred to any other vendors’ system with all data intact. This makes it a much more attractive and lucrative investment as public demand for the ability to contact 9-1-1 through other means than voice communication grows.

As people globally continue to increase their SMS/data service plans and reduce their cell voice minutes, it is increasingly apparent that NG9-1-1 capabilities are needed as more and more people choose SMS communications. Having IP Enabled systems in place will make this transition faster and easier as technology and telephone companies move one step closer to Next Generation 9-1-1.

Interesting New Wireless Usage Figures

Results from the CTIA survey of cellular usage were just released.

The number of US cellular subscribers is up from 194.4M three years ago to 262.8M – a 35% increase. Penetration of the US population is up from 66% to 84% - but still is actually one of the lowest in the world.

Percentage of wireless only households is up from 7.7% to 15.8% - a 105% increase.

Interestingly enough however, the number of E911 calls placed from cell phones was only up slightly from three years ago - 296K in June 2008 up from 260K in June 2005 – only a 13.8% increase. There were only 12.2M send in June 2000.

Meanwhile....

75 billion SMS messages were sent in June 2008 alone. That’s 2.5 billion text message a day / 262.7M subscribers as of June 2008 = average of 9.5 messages per day per cell phone. This is up from 7.2 billion SMS messages per month three years ago. New annualized Yearly rate is thus 600.5 billion per year.

You can see all the stats here:

http://www.ctia.org/media/industry_info/index.cfm/AID/10323

 

And interesting article published last week asks whether Carriers are prepared to handle the text explosion...

http://mobiledevdesign.com/tutorials/mobile_carriers_handle_text_explosion-1008/

Text Messaging to 9-1-1

It is stories like this that are a prime example demonstrating the need for next generation 9-1-1 systems that can accept text messages.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24403433

Importance of Messaging

MRT had an interesting article on the emerging trend of being able to send non-voice messages to the field. Read the full article...

From the article:

Being able to send information to a first responder in the field without using voice is a critical component to efficient communications--and may be the only practical way to communicate when an officer needs to maintain silence in a given situation.

InterAct's CrimeAgent Mobile CAD supports silent dispatch to keep the airwaves open for critical communications. It can be integrated into state, local and national databases giving field personnel the tools they need to be efficient and effective. Instead of having to call into the station for master name, location and vehicle checks, they can access them directly from the laptop in their vehicle.

[R]eliability and coverage unquestionably will be the top criteria. The answer may be in Wi-Fi/WiMAX data networks, cellular data networks, satellite technology, private data networks at 700 MHz or paging networks made more robust by new technologies--or some sort of combination.

InterAct is partnered with Trificient and Radio-IP to ensure continual connectivity between field personnel and the 9-1-1 center. Trificient's mobile high speed networks provide more than enough bandwidth to support simultaneous VoIP, real-time video and data applications (including RMS, mug shots, finger prints, warrant requests and vehicle/DMV (Department of Motor Vehicle) data). Integrated with your agency's network, each vehicle is transformed into a true "mobile office", allowing police officers to spend more time on the streets.

Trificient's systems create radio cells (up to ranges of several miles) that allow cost-effective coverage of vast geographical areas using visual as well as computerized data to define the proper equipment and placement for maximum coverage.

No matter what type of wireless data network you have, Radio IP MTG provides continuous wireless connectivity, the security of a mobile VPN and the ability to connect to other networks with RadioRoam® wireless roaming.

Together with our partners, InterAct enables public safety organizations, transit authorities, government & utility organizations and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to stay connected with vehicles on the move throughout entire cities and service areas.