What are the Phases of Wireless E911?
There are 3 phases that are referred to in implementing Wireless 911 service. The most basic of these, sometimes called Wireless Phase 0, simply means that when you dial 9-1-1 from your cell phone a operator at a public safety answering point (PSAP) answers. The operator may be at a state highway patrol PSAP, at a city or county PSAP up to hundreds of miles away, or at a local PSAP, depending on how the wireless 911 call is routed. Wireless Phase I is the first step in providing better emergency response service to wireless 911 callers. When Phase I has been implemented, a wireless 911 call will come into the PSAP with the wireless phone call back number. This is important in the event the cell phone call is dropped, and may even allow PSAP employees to work with the wireless company to identify the wireless subscriber. However, Phase I still doesn’t help operators locate emergency victims or callers. To locate wireless 911 callers, Phase II must have been implemented in the area by lo
