Western Wireless has announced the deployment of its Phase I Enhanced 911 (E911) service for Cellular One customers in the USA state of North Dakota. Working in partnership with county Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP), Cellular One is the first rural wireless carrier to widely deploy E911 service to North Dakota emergency dispatchers and response crews. E911 service provides call back numbers quickly and more accurately than a standard emergency call during an emergency situation. Currently, Cellular One has E911 service available for about 70 percent of its North Dakota subscribers, including those within the cities of Bismarck, Fargo, and Grand Forks.
"The joint efforts of Cellular One and the public safety forces of North Dakota in providing E911 services assures our citizens greater safety and an added sense of security," said North Dakota Governor John Hoeven. "Digital wireless services are important to our economic development, public safety, and quality of life initiatives in our state."
Russ Lindblom, wireless project manager for the North Dakota Association of Counties added, "The statewide availability of the E911 service will greatly reduce the time it takes our emergency teams to respond to critical situations, where the response time may be the key determinant in saving lives."
In the heavily traveled and remote areas of North Dakota, drivers often become lost on unfamiliar highways or areas. When adverse weather conditions appear or an accident occurs, callers often are unable to direct 911 dispatchers to the exact accident/emergency.
"Cellular One realizes the crucial role that wireless technology plays in enhancing the safety of the communities where we live and work," said Gene DeJordy, vice president of regulatory affairs at Western Wireless Corporation, operator of Cellular One. "The Phase I Enhanced 911 program allows Cellular One and public safety teams to provide the state of North Dakota with timely and accurate response capabilities whenever emergency services are needed."
Posted to the site on 16th March 2004
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/10850.php