The three-digit telephone number “911” has been designated as the Universal Emergency Number for citizens throughout the United States to request emergency assistance. It is intended as a nationwide telephone number and gives the public a rapid and easily accessible number to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).
| 1957 |
The National Association of Fire Chiefs recommends use of a single number for reporting fires.
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| 1967 |
The President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice recommends the establishment of a nationwide single number for the purpose of reporting emergencies. The use of different telephone numbers for each type of emergency was determined to be contrary to the purpose of a single, universal number. Other Federal Government Agencies and governmental officials supported and encouraged the recommendation; as a result of the interest in this issue, the President’s Commission on Civil Disorders turned to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a solution.
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Nov
1967 |
AT&T and the FCC meet to discuss the rapid introduction of a nationwide emergency number.
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Early
1968 |
AT&T announces 911 as the nationwide emergency number. 911 is chosen because it is easily remembered by the public, can be quickly dialed and because no area codes or office codes begin with or use it. Congress agrees with AT&T and passes a bill which reserves the number for nationwide use. The cost of updating telephone equipment is offset by a fee included into a phone subscriber’s base rate.
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Feb 16,
1968 |
Alabama Telephone Company becomes the first telephone service to implement 911. Senator Rankin Fite dials the first 911 call from a phone in Haleyville, AL.
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Feb 22,
1968 |
Nome, Alaska begins 911 service to its city.
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March
1973 |
A national policy is established by the Executive Office of Telecommunications recognizing the importance and benefit of 911 to a growing population. The White House begins encouraging the nationwide adoption of the new emergency number and creates a Federal Information Center to assist in planning and implementation of 911.
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Early
1970’s |
Alameda County, CA becomes the first test-bed for a new pilot program introduced by AT&T called “selective call routing”. This is the beginning of “Enhanced 911”.
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Late
1976 |
It is determined that 17% of the U.S. is served by 911
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| 1976 |
More than a quarter (26%) of the U.S. has 911 service. Nine states have legislation enacted for the emergency number. 70 new 911 systems are established every year following.
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| 1987 |
911 is available in 50% of the U.S.
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| 1987 |
Canada creates its own nationwide emergency number service and adopts 911 as well.
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| Today |
Almost the entire population of the country (93%) has 911 access. Of that, 95% of 911 service is Enhanced 911 (selective call routing with number and location identification).
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| Today |
Legislation is passed in many states requiring cell phones to be complaint with location indexes for the E911 system by 2004. This means any cellular telephone that 911 is dialed from should be able to be located to within a few hundred yards or less. Unfortunately to date, this process is unreliable and still unavailable in certain areas. |
