MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – In two years, Tennessee residents will have the option to text their emergencies to 911.
Tennessee Emergency Communications Board Executive Director Curtis Sutton told WMC-TV that texting will be included as part of a statewide upgrade of 911 communications expected in 2017.
Sutton says the new capabilities will help those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, as well as people who may be unable or afraid to speak.
States are updating their 911 systems in response to a Federal Communications Commission order issued August 2014. The order, which requires all wireless carriers and text service providers to enable consumers to send emergency texts to dispatch centers that can accommodate them.
The order does not impose a 911 texting deadline on states, cities, or counties.
Source: news2
Tennessee to launch 911 texting in 2017
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