Press Release Headlines

Law Enforcement, Public Safety, and Emergency Response Orgs Urge FCC to Address Wireless 9-1-1 Crisis

Groups Unveils Banner at Press Event Outside FCC at Start of Commission Workshop on e911 Location Accuracy

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Prominent law enforcement, public safety, and emergency response organizations held a press event outside the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Monday, November 18th at the opening of a Commission workshop on e911 location accuracy.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131118/PH19587-a )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131118/PH19587-b )

At the event, they displayed a banner urging the FCC to quickly establish a reasonable, measurable level of location accuracy for all wireless emergency calls.

Data recently released by the FCC shows that, in some states and localities, upwards of 2/3 of wireless 9-1-1 calls are delivered to the emergency call center without accurate location data, leaving emergency responders unable to send help to people who cannot tell or do not know their locations.

Attendees at the FCC workshop and banner unfurling included:

  • Jamie Barnett, former Chief of the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau and Director of the Find Me 911 Coalition
  • Jason Barbour, 911 Director, Johnston County, N.C. and former President of the National Emergency Number Association
  • Mike Cain, Research Director, International Union of Police Associations
  • Dennis Slocumb, Vice President Emeritus and Legislative Director, International Union of Police Associations
  • Steve Souder, Director, Fairfax County Public Safety Communications
  • Nathan Lee, President and Founder, Denise Amber Lee Foundation
  • Mark Lee, Vice President, Denise Amber Lee Foundation
  • David Dignam, Secretary, Denise Amber Lee Foundation
  • Mike Finello, Senior 9-1-1 Operator, Pompton Lakes Police Department
  • Other 9-1-1 dispatchers, first responders and public safety advocates

About the Find Me 911 Coalition
Find me 911 is an effort supported by more than 145,000 individuals, as well as national and local organizations representing a broad range of 911 operators and first responders — emergency medical services personnel, fire fighters and police.  Find Me 911 seeks to ensure that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) move to quickly establish a reasonable, measurable level of location accuracy for emergency calls made indoors, enabling first responders to locate emergency calls from wireless phones from all locations rapidly and efficiently.

Contact:
Andrew Weinstein
202-667-4967
Email