In two years, Tennessee residents will have the option to text their emergencies to 911 operators.
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 said 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.
“Text-to-911 is great for domestic violence cases, in which someone can’t call right away or can’t be heard calling 911,” said Whitney Green, public information officer for the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management. Green said 911 texting is available in Arkansas, but only on a county-by-county basis.
States are updating their 911 systems in response to a Federal Communications Commission order issued in August 2014. The order 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. Instead, it gives them the discretion to decide if and when to implement text-to-911.
“The TECB doesn’t prohibit local emergency communications districts from implementing their own text-to-911 solution, but you will likely find the general consensus from the 911 community is that a statewide solution is preferable,” Sutton said.