easy question: cell phones & 911 (transfer, centers, car)

[Coogan]

Like I said, it's an easy one: if you call 911 from a cell phone in the area, does it get picked up by the local 911 center, or a national center that transfers your call to the local one? IIRC, the latter is the way it used to be done, but I think the carriers started rolling it directly to the local agency some years back.

Just wondering, because we have no landline at our house, and it's not like I can just call 911 and inquire as to where they are (pretty sure that could land me in some trouble). I've just never been clear as to which local *-1-1 services were available to cell phone users.

Coog

[djmaxwell]

Originally Posted by Coogan

Like I said, it's an easy one: if you call 911 from a cell phone in the area, does it get picked up by the local 911 center, or a national center that transfers your call to the local one? IIRC, the latter is the way it used to be done, but I think the carriers started rolling it directly to the local agency some years back.

Just wondering, because we have no landline at our house, and it's not like I can just call 911 and inquire as to where they are (pretty sure that could land me in some trouble). I've just never been clear as to which local *-1-1 services were available to cell phone users.

Coog

I would expect that the tower would route the call to the correct location, but you could contact these folks.

http://madisoncountyal.gov/services/...mergComm.shtml

[LCTMadison]

It goes to the local call center.

[weaverra]

Originally Posted by Coogan

Like I said, it's an easy one: if you call 911 from a cell phone in the area, does it get picked up by the local 911 center, or a national center that transfers your call to the local one? IIRC, the latter is the way it used to be done, but I think the carriers started rolling it directly to the local agency some years back.

Just wondering, because we have no landline at our house, and it's not like I can just call 911 and inquire as to where they are (pretty sure that could land me in some trouble). I've just never been clear as to which local *-1-1 services were available to cell phone users.

Coog

It will more than likely be the call center nearest the tower your cell phone is being routed through.

[JakeWilliams]

If you want, you can call 911 and tell them that you are testing your 911 service and want to make sure of the data they get. I have done that plenty in the past when setting up phone systems. They understand that it's better to make sure it's working right when you don't need it than find out it isn't right when you do. Plus I doubt the 911 call centers are understaffed and overworked here like they are in large cities.

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by weaverra

It will more than likely be the call center nearest the tower your cell phone is being routed through.

This is the answer.

[TurkeyRuben]

You can also call the non-emergency number for your local police & fire department, and ask your question.

[MisterEd51]

Originally Posted by djmaxwell

I would expect that the tower would route the call to the correct location, but you could contact these folks.

http://madisoncountyal.gov/services/...mergComm.shtml

The ENHANCED 911 Act was passed in 2004 to address this. To comply with this a 911 center and the cell phone providers have to have the software and hardware in place to identify the approximate location of the caller. This is done by locating the nearest cell tower to the caller.

If you contact the "Emergency Communications District" as indicated in the link above ask them if they fully comply with "Enhanced 911". If so the nearest cell tower will be used to locate the caller and dispatch the appropriate response agency.

Note the The NET 911 Improvement Act of 2008 was passed four years later to cover phone calls made using VOIP.

[pkbab5]

A couple of years ago I called 911 from my cell when I saw someone who got hit by a car in the Monrovia area. The call did not need to be transferred, and the police and ambulance arrived within minutes, so I'm assuming it was a local center. If it was a national center, it was completely transparent to me.

The person who was injured just had a pretty good concussion but was otherwise okay, in case anyone was worried.

[RocketDawgmsu]

I called 911 a couple weeks ago to report a wreck, and the phone was answered by a local person who was quite familiar with the local geography.