BC911

History of 9-1-1

9-1-1 is a three-digit telephone number that has been set aside as the telephone number to be used in the event of an emergency and as a means of calling for police, fire, or emergency medical assistance. In some countries, a three-digit number has been used for many years.

1937 Great Britain uses the digits 999

1957 National Fire Chiefs Association advocates a single number to report fires.

1967 Law Enforcement recommends national emergency phone number.

1968 On January 12, AT&T designates the numbers 9-1-1 to be used throughout the country as an emergency telephone number.

1968 On February 16, Senator Rankin Fite completes the first 9-1-1 call made in the United States in Haleyville, Alabama.

1968 February 22, Nome, Alaska implements 9-1-1 service.

1970 AT&T begins the development of sophisticated features for 9-1-1 with a pilot program in Alameda County, California. This feature is "selective call routing."

1973 Odessa is the first city in Texas to have 9-1-1 installed.

1973 In March, the White House Office of Telecommunications issues a national policy statement which recognizes the benefits of 9-1-1.

1976 Approximately 17% of the population of the United States has 9-1-1 service.

1979 Approximately 26% of the population of the United States has 9-1-1 service.

1980 Texas sees its first legislation providing a self-support funding structure for 9-1-1.

1980 Texas begins implementation of 9-1-1 through:

24 Emergency Communications Districts

24 Councils of Government

27 Home Rule Cities

1983 On May 10, the 9-1-1 Emergency Act is signed into law by Texas Governor Mark White.

1985 On July 11, the Texas Advisory Commission on State Emergency Communications (ACSEC) begins a 17-month study on the feasibility of statewide implementation of 9-1-1.

1987 On January 20, ACSEC recommends a proposal that provides ANI as a minimum level of service; funding that includes a flat fee on local exchange telephone service; a surcharge on intrastate long distance funding.

1987 On May 21, H.B. 911 is signed into law by Texas Governor Bill Clements. This bill provides statewide funding for 9-1-1.

1995 Approximately 75% of the U.S. population has 9-1-1 service. In Texas, 98% of the population has 9-1-1 service.

1998 100% of the population of Texas has 9-1-1 service.

1999 Nearly 93% of the population of the U.S. is covered by some type of 9-1-1 service. 95% of that coverage is Enhanced 9-1-1.

2001 Monterrey, Mexico implements 080 for their emergency number. In addition, Canada recognizes the advantages of a single emergency number and chooses to adopt 9-1-1, thus unifying the concept and giving 9-1-1 international stature.

2009 On June 9, a call center in Blackhawk County, Iowa, is the first in the country to successfully receive text messages sent directly to 9-1-1.