New county 9-1-1 system implemented

County 9-1-1 news

On April 9, Van Wert County 9-1-1 operations implemented a new 9-1-1 system. The previous 9-1-1 equipment could no longer be supported by the manufacturer and was not capable of working in the digital world. Because of the outdated technology, the old system could not work with newer services that use Internet protocol (IP).

Plans for a new system began months before as county 9-1-1 Coordinator Kim Brandt formed a search committee to find a digital-capable 9-1-1 system. Keeping current in the 9-1-1 world by attending industry training, Brandt knows Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG 9-1-1) is coming — basically moving 9-1-1 service from the old analog-copper wire system to a digital system.

In today’s 9-1-1 environment, the public can primarily make only emergency voice calls and teletype calls (by deaf or hearing impaired persons). Minimal data, such as automatic number identification, subscriber name, and Automatic Location Identification, when available, are delivered with these calls.

In the Next Generation 9-1-1 environment, the public will be able to make voice, text, or video emergency “calls” from any communications device via Internet protocol-based networks. The PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) of the future will also be able to receive data from personal safety devices, such as Advanced Automatic Collision Notification systems, medical alert systems, and sensors of various types. The new infrastructure envisioned by the NG 9-1-1 project will support long distance call transfers from other PSAPs, as well as transfer of emergency calls to other PSAPs — including any accompanying data, such as map data. In addition, the PSAP may be able to issue emergency alerts separate from 9-1-1 to wireless devices in an area, via voice or text messages, and to highway alert systems.

After more than a year of research and several system quotes, the local 9-1-1 Board agreed to purchase a NG 9-1-1 ready Solacom system through Indigital Telecom based in Fort Wayne, Ind. In 2004, Indigital was selected by the Indiana Wireless 9-1-1 Advisory Board to build the new Indiana IP 9-1-1 network, and the company built a private, high-speed IP network, the first large-scale public safety network of its kind in the United States.

Indigital’s NG 9-1-1 network and equipment experience made them a perfect fit for the new Van Wert County 9-1-1 system. Van Wert County 9-1-1 operations purchased a “hosted solution” because it made the most sense in today’s rapidly changing technology environment. In addition, it saved approximately $70,000, compared to the cost of an “on site” system.

A hosted solution means that the actual brains of the Solacom system are housed at Indigital’s office and connected to Van Wert County 9-1-1 operations over dedicated network paths that use Internet technologies.

While area residents cannot text to 9-1-1 today, the county is preparing to phase in new capabilities (beyond voice calling) over time, as other required parts of the equation become available. Service providers have to implement IP interfaces and be able to process multimedia data before 9-1-1 can process calls by text or with photographs. In addition, the Emergency Services Internet Network (ESInet) needs to be built.

Locally, comments occasionally are made about how 9-1-1 could save money if there was a central dispatch. “I can honestly tell you that does not make sense for Van Wert County,” Brandt said. “Here are the reasons why: The founding committee of 9-1-1 in Van Wert County created the 9-1-1 system using existing equipment and personnel. The call takers and dispatchers already knew the city/county maps and are familiar with law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel and office procedures.

“Setting up 9-1-1 this way saved hiring and training new people, finding a separate building or facility and the expenses that come with that,” Brandt added. “If we did have central dispatch, where would it be housed and how much would that cost? We can’t do without the dispatchers that are in place because they are needed for the sheriff’s office and the police department to work efficiently.”

Setting up 9-1-1 with existing personnel and communications equipment, such as radios and telephones, means that dispatchers’ salaries were, and still are, paid by the two respective departments. No new funding was needed to purchase additional communications equipment and hire additional personnel.

County 9-1-1 operations is funded today through the 50-cent wire line fee and the 25-cent wireless fee.

These user fees pay for 9-1-1 equipment and office expenses, as well as 9-1-1 related training for dispatchers and the coordinator. Coordinator expense is also paid by user fees. In 1995, when 9-1-1 began, the city and county split the coordinator expense. Today, with wireless funding and wired phone line funding, 9-1-1 is self-sufficient and actually contributes funding to the sheriff’s office and police department to help pay dispatchers’ salaries.

On top of 9-1-1 call taking and dispatching duties, dispatchers are responsible for officer safety, radio communications and walk-in traffic, as well as administrative calls. “If we had central dispatch as a standalone, agency dispatchers would not have this other productive work to do between 9-1-1 calls, yet their salary and other communications expenses would still exist,” Brandt said.

The county has moved forward toward NG 9-1-1, but at the federal and state level, a lot of work is still ongoing to develop and implement NG 9-1-1.

While NG 9-1-1 and the information/data coming in with a 9-1-1 call could be some time away on a widespread basis, when forced to buy new equipment, it makes sense to buy a system that is prepared to handle this type of communication, especially because the county is close to Allen County, Ind., and 9-1-1 needs to have compatibility within the region.

Before Ohio can implement a NG 9-1-1 system, there needs to be a statewide IP network. State 9-1-1 officials will need a method of providing training for dispatchers to handle new types of communication and will need adequate funding for all these operations.

Ohio has formed a 10-member group called the Emergency Service Internet Protocol Steering Committee (ESInet). The steering committee advises state policymakers on the implementation, operation, and maintenance of a statewide emergency services network. Recommendations shall include a review of the current funding model for Ohio’s 9-1-1 systems and may include a recommendation for a reduction in wireless charges. The group will also examine the readiness of the state’s current technology infrastructure for a statewide Internet protocol network and will research the required legislative authority needed with regard to governance and funding of a statewide network and provide recommendations on best practices to limit duplicative efforts to ensure an effective transition to NG 9-1-1.

The committee will make recommendations for consolidation of PSAPs to accommodate NG 9-1-1 technology and facilitate a more efficient and effective emergency services system.

In addition, the ESInet committee will recommend policies, procedures and statutory or regulatory authority to effectively govern a statewide emergency services internet protocol network, and will designate a NG 9-1-1 statewide coordinator to serve as primary point of contact for federal initiatives. The committee will also coordinate with statewide initiatives and associations such as NENA, APCO, state interoperable executive committee, the Ohio geographically referenced information program council, the Ohio multi-agency radio communications system steering committee, and other interested parties.

The NG 911 statewide coordinator is the person who will also be responsible for aggregating the number of access lines per provider in Ohio, as well as calculating the aggregate costs and cost recovery associated with providing 9-1-1 service, including current coverage under tariffs and bill-and-keep arrangements and any other information deemed necessary to support the transition to NG 9-1-1.

For its part, Van Wert County has moved to become a part of the Indiana ESInet, and one of the first agencies in Ohio to move to Internet protocol technologies.

Brandt has worked with local Internet provider Bright Net and Van Wert City Schools to get Van Wert County 9-1-1 operations connected to fiber optic cable. 9-1-1 calls still start on legacy analog phone lines provided by Century Link, but are converted to Internet protocol by the new system.

As time goes by and ESInets are implemented in Ohio, “calls” will be sent to 9-1-1 using Internet protocols. With fiber in place, and back-up fiber in the works, Van Wert County 9-1-1 is working toward the next steps in implementing NG 9-1-1, and continuing to proactively serve the community to ensure public safety.

For more information, call Brandt at the sheriff’s office by calling 419.238.3866.