911 And Cell Phones

When you call 911 from a land phone, even if you don’t
know where you are, the 911 system is able to locate
you and send help as needed. Your landline telephone
is connected to the lines on the poles which makes a
computer in the dispatch center show the number and
address of the phone you're using.

Cell Phones Don't Work the Same

When you make a 911 call on a cell phone, you are
sending signals through the air. The tower that picks
up your phone's signal may or may not be near.

Unless you are able to tell the 911 dispatcher where
you are at, it may be very hard for them to locate
you.

If you happen to connect to a 911 call center that is
not local, they may not be able to help you as quickly
as they will need to contact the 911 service providers
in your area, thereby slowing the dispatching of help
to the caller.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has
required that all wireless carriers be able to
pinpoint your location for the 911 dispatchers, but
the rule is coming in phases and there are plenty of
exceptions.

When you call 911 from a cell phone, the call often
lands in a regional center. A call-taker in a far-away
city or county may answer your call. To get help to
you, there are two pieces of information the
call-taker needs to know immediately:

1. Tell the call-taker which city you're calling from
first. They can forward your call to the right center
if need be.

2. Tell the call-taker what type of emergency you
have. This will let them be able to inform the other
centers of the nature of such an emergency. Giving
priority to serious situations first.

Dispatch centers may vary from one center to another,
with the right information, the call-taker will
transfer you to the right center.