The Town of Cary's wireless 911 project involves installing equipment and working with cell phone companies to pinpoint a caller's location with much greater specificity. The purpose is to get help to the right place even more quickly in an emergency.

Since early 2001, Cary's 911 center has identified the phone number and location of the cell tower transmitting each call. Staff members in the center know the general area of the call, even if the caller is unable to say. In some cases, however, the cell site and caller may be miles apart.

Global positioning satellites and related technology make it possible to pinpoint cell phone locations with great accuracy, often to within about 50 or 100 yards, even less.

Summer 2004 Update

Wireless carriers that have completed equipment installation and testing and are providing more precise caller locations to the 911 center:

• Alltel
• Nextel
• AT&T Wireless
• Sprint
• Verizon
• Cingular

Federal Government Requirements

Wireless carriers have until Dec. 31, 2005 to ensure that 95 percent of their cell phones work with the call locating technology producing longitude and latitude. One way is with Global Positioning Satellite computer chips in phones. The other option is for carriers to upgrade their network rather than change the phones.

Accuracy in Pinpointing Locations

The Federal Communications Commission has adopted these accuracy standards for wireless carriers to meet by the end of 1995:

• 50 meters* for 67 percent of calls; 150 meters for 95 percent of calls (For handset-based solutions)
• 100 meters for 67 percent of calls; 300 meters for 95 percent of calls (For network-based solutions)

(* Meter equals approximately 39.37 inches)

911 Calls - Wired Telephones Versus Wireless

When someone dials 911 on a phone wired into a home or business, the address pops up on a console in the Town's communications center. This system, called Enhanced 911, allows the dispatcher to call back if the person hangs up or loses consciousness before giving the necessary information.

The purpose of the nationwide wireless 911 initiative is to provide similar service to citizens who report emergencies over cell phones.

Contact

Terry Yates
Telecommunications analyst
Town of Cary
P.O. Box 8005
Cary, NC 27512
919-469-4014
Fax 919-388-1101
Terry.Yates@TownofCary.org