The ability to communicate with 9-1-1 centers via wireless, VoIP and other channels came closer to reality thanks to new solutions, successful tests, and a new deployment, in rural eastern Kentucky, with InterAct Public Safety technology.

InterAct has become one of the first two vendors nationwide to integrate its solutions with the proposed Next Generation (NG) 9-1-1 architecture. It is also the only provider to completely process end-to-end NG9-1-1 calls from calls to computer-aided dispatch  (CAD) and geographic information mapping systems (GIS) using nothing but IP connections.

The NG9-1-1 Initiative is a R&D project under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to enable voice, data, and video transmission from different types of communication devices to the Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) and onto emergency responder networks. The program will define the system architecture and develop a transition plan to establish a digital, Internet Protocol (IP)-based foundation for the delivery of multimedia 9-1-1 ‘calls.’

InterAct had demonstrated proof of concept, that it is possible to dispatch incident response personnel from anywhere in the world, at the National Emergency Numbering Association (NENA) conference held in Fort Worth, Texas in June 2009. NENA is leading the charge in developing national standards for how NG9-1-1 will be structured, in addition to working with the DOT on a proof-of-concept NG9-1-1 system.

A wireless 9-1-1 call placed from Fort Worth was immediately routed through InterAct’s Next Generation IP-enabled 9-1-1 controller in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada back to a call-taker position in the Texas city. Simultaneously, the automatic location information was sent from the controller to an InterActCADtng server in Winston-Salem, N.C. It was transmitted over a low bandwidth wireless network using an air card to a dispatch position in Fort. Worth where the caller location was plotted on the InterActGIS map display, and a call created in the InterActCADtng workstation.

“9-1-1 centers have a dire need for Next Generation capabilities,” says NENA CEO Brian Fontes. “Regardless of whether a caller dials 9-1-1 from a wired, voice-over-IP or wireless phone, the location information should be instantly transmitted to the correct public safety answering point. Next Generation 9-1-1 makes this possible and enables the PSAP to receive and react to multimedia messages that cannot be handled by the current system. NENA applauds InterAct Public Safety (News - Alert) Systems for their commitment to advancing emergency communications towards the Next Generation and improving public safety for all Americans.”

“With the continued proliferation of IP communications, NG9-1-1 technology is now able to open unprecedented opportunities for 9-1-1 centers,” says InterAct Public Safety Systems Executive Chairman and CEO, Andrew J. “Flip” Filipowski. “Not only will agencies be able to communicate with citizens via text and video messages, but they can also choose to centralize all public safety equipment to drive down costs and collaborate with other agencies. While keeping dispatchers in the local communities they know best. Without question, this is a superior option to physical consolidation, which inevitably leads to staff attrition and loss of critical knowledge.”

Proving out InterAct’s chair/CEO’s remarks Elliott County (Kentucky) Fiscal Court’s 9-1-1 system has become first (PSAP) in the U.S. to be fully prepared for Next Generation (NG) 9-1-1 capabilities. It can now connect via SIP to the telecom provider, leveraging an all IP-based emergency communication system and meet i3 specifications. With the InterActNG911 Controller, an integral component of the InterAct Connections Framework, the agency will receive and react to 9-1-1 calls faster, gain enhanced 9-1-1 emergency service capabilities, and reduce operating costs.

With the IP infrastructure in place, it will reduce the cost of adding new phone trunks to a few hundred dollars versus several thousand dollars. As NG capabilities become available, Elliott County will receive 9-1-1 text messages as well as telematics, video, audio, sensor, and camera inputs, without a significant equipment upgrade.

The county is also deploying InterActCAD and InterActGIS solutions, giving 9-1-1 dispatchers powerful tools with which they can promptly respond to emergency situations, and deploy appropriate personnel as needed. With InterAct equipment in place, the county’s PSAP can pinpoint the location of wired callers via voice over IP lines. Mountain Rural Telecom Cooperative, the voice service provider behind this installation, recently upgraded to a secure IP network, enabling calls to be routed from its central office to the county’s PSAP.

“As the world of public safety evolves, it’s important to be prepared for however our citizens choose to communicate with us and continue to find ways to improve our response times,” said Jim Skaggs, 9-1-1 coordinator for Elliott County. “InterAct’s fully integrated systems enable us to enhance emergency communications. We were also really impressed that InterAct’s CAD and mapping applications are not only seamlessly integrated with each other, but also with Next Generation phone systems.”

The principal factor he said driving this technological migration was the steadfast commitment of the Hon. Judge Executive David Blair, to utilize the most advanced solutions possible to protect county residents. Though the state is currently building an IP backbone across Kentucky, Elliot County will be among the first communities that benefit from true end-to-end IP communications. This project was made possible through the work of local, state, and regional partnerships with InterAct.

The Kentucky Homeland Security office awarded a total of $109,947 in grant funds to Elliott County for equipment purchases and the CMRS Board of Kentucky provided an $82,000 grant to provide GIS mapping and addressing for the county.  In addition, the Buffalo Trace Area Development District along with the FIVCO Area Development District provided the technical staff to complete the 911 addressing and GIS mapping, along with the project management staff to support Skaggs during implementation.

“Typically, if someone calls 9-1-1, it takes up to 15 seconds before the 9-1-1 dispatcher can see the caller’s number,” said InterAct Public Safety Systems Executive Chairman and CEO Andrew J. “Flip” Filipowski. “If the call is disconnected before that number is received, the dispatcher may have no way to identify and call back the person. This disconnect can put people in peril. With the IP infrastructure in place, Elliott County dispatchers will instantly receive the caller’s number, improving public safety.”