What VoIP Providers Should Know about Text to 9-1-1

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Louisa Davidson
8 years ago
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1 1 What VoIP Providers Should Know about Text to 9-1-1

2 Is text-to trending? Yes, but contrary to popular opinion it s not just an issue for wireless carriers. Short message service (SMS) is primarily for mobile phones, but more and more, non wireless carriers and over-the-top (OTT) applications are using SMS-enabled wireline numbers for a wide variety of purposes. Do you offer such services? If so, this fact sheet is for you, highlighting recent developments that you ll want to be aware of as they may have near and long-term implications for your business and subscribers

applications are using SMS-enabled wireline numbers for a wide variety of purposes. Do you offer such services?

3 1 Text-to seems to be more a question of when, not if In August 2011, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a Five-Step Action Plan for next-generation (NG9-1-1) aimed at upgrading the current legacy, TDM-based system to one based on Internet protocol. At the heart of the plan lies the ability for people to send SMS text messages, photos, and videos to public safety answering points (PSAPs) in emergency situations. A month later the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to accelerate text-to deployment. Interested parties including Bandwidth, on behalf of its inetwork division, the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) have weighed in, noting the benefits of text-to and that technical solutions do exist to enable this functionality. 3

At the heart of the plan lies the ability for people to send SMS text messages, photos, and videos to public safety answering points (PSAPs) in emergency situations.

4 2 Use of text is becoming a primary means of communication According to CTIA-The Wireless Association (50 Wireless Quick Facts), in 2011 more than six billion text messages were sent and received every day in the United States. With those numbers growing rapidly and people of all ages relying on texting as a primary means of communication, public safety officials increasingly agree that it s time for wireless and VoIP service providers to seriously consider offering text-to services to their customers. 4

With those numbers growing rapidly and people of all ages relying on texting as a primary means of communication, public safety

5 3 Experts agree Text-to can save lives While there is agreement that a voice call remains the best way to contact 9-1-1, experts agree enabling IPbased phones and other devices to transmit text messages to can save lives. It gives people in need of emergency assistance an additional and potentially life-saving option It provides needed assistance to speech- and hearing-impaired citizens It lets those whose safety could be jeopardized by speaking still request help 5

It gives people in need of emergency assistance an additional and potentially life-saving option It provides needed

6 4 But obstacles remain There are obstacles public safety officials and providers (including Bandwidth s inetwork division) must address to ensure reliable, ubiquitous access to this new life-saving capability: The potential delay or delivery failure due to network problems or congestion Additional costs for service providers and public safety agencies are not yet clearly defined Additional workload requirements on call takers are as yet unknown Solutions to dynamically locate a texter for effective routing do not yet exist Changes in the public s use of technology the growing market for both wireless and VoIP telephony and the increasingly nomadic world they reflect are contributing to great expectations for connections than the existing system can deliver. The spread of highly mobile, dynamic communications requires capabilities that do not exist today for emergency call centers when people look to connect during emergencies. - U.S. Department of Transportation, NG9-1-1: The Transportation Problem 6

workload requirements on 9-1-1 call takers are as yet unknown Solutions to dynamically locate a texter for effective routing do not yet exist Changes in the public s use of technology the growing

7 5 Text to trials are currently underway Deployment of text-to appears to be gaining momentum. Emergency text messaging systems are currently being used and tested in a variety of U.S. locations to include: Black Hawk County, Iowa Durham, NC The State of Vermont Numerous additional counties and states, such as Alabama and Utah are deploying or are considering solutions to support text-to

locations to include: Black Hawk County, Iowa Durham, NC The State of Vermont Numerous additional

8 6 The FCC has taken a leadership role in addressing text-to In late March, the FCC Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EAAC) invited select industry-leading companies and organizations, including Bandwidth, to showcase current and future text-to technologies and applications. Its purpose was to determine and make recommedations on the most effective and efficient ways to support equal access to emergency services by individuals with disabilities. 8

current and future text-to-9-1-1 technologies and applications.

9 7 This is not a fringe market issue Major providers are both tracking and remaining actively involved in text-to Most recently, in May of 2012 Verizon Wireless announced plans to launch text-to services in select PSAPs by early

Most recently, in May of 2012 Verizon Wireless announced

10 Summary So where does that leave VoIP providers, over-the-top application providers, and other providers of IP-based communications that offer SMS services? No one knows for sure, but with the FCC NPRM, Verizon s announcement, consumers increasing preference for texting and other industry indicators, it s possible that rules around text-to could be forthcoming relatively soon. To advance text-to services, Bandwidth, its inetwork division, and others are actively developing solutions. Now is an ideal time for those interested in staying a step ahead to become educated and participate in helping to shape the solutions that will be deployed. Contact us or visit our Resource Center for more information. For more information: sales@bandwidth.com 10

be forthcoming relatively soon. To advance text-to-9-1-1 services, Bandwidth, its inetwork division, and others are actively developing solutions.

The four largest wireless telephone companies (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon) have voluntarily committed to make texting to 911 available

The four largest wireless telephone companies (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon) have voluntarily committed to make texting to 911 available It is now possible to use certain wireless telephone services to send a text message to 911if you are unable to make a voice 911 call, you can type your message on your wireless phone and send it to a