Wireless 9-1-1

What is Wireless 9-1-1?

When 9-1-1 is dialed from a landline phone from a home or business, the caller's location and phone number is sent to that location's Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). This allows the 9-1-1 call taker to dispatch police, fire or EMS to the caller's location, even if the caller cannot communicate with the 9-1-1 call taker.

The calls received by cellular phones or other wireless devices provide information a little differently than regular Enhanced 9-1-1. Wireless calls received on dedicated 9-1-1 lines identify the cell phone number of the caller and it displays the location information of the receiving cell tower. The exact location of the caller is not possible with this technology. Also known as Wireless Phase I, this technology was seen as the first step toward providing better emergency response service. Piatt County implemented Phase I service in 2004. Wireless Phase II technology quickly followed.

Wireless Phase II service was implemented at the Piatt County Public Safety Answering Point in 2005. With Phase II technology the emergency cellular calls placed to 9-1-1 provides the same information as in Phase I but in addition, provides the latitude and longitude location of the caller. Just as with a landline emergency call, the location is automatically indicated on a digital map available to the 9-1-1 call taker.