911 to Accept Texts, Photos, Video Soon

The FCC is working on new technology that will allow Americans to send text messages, photos, videos and location data to the 911 emergency response system.

The FCC hopes the system, called Next Generation 911 (NG911), will increase the public's access to emergency services and allow emergency responders to respond faster, according to a press release.

Richland County EMS Director Michael Byrd said the county is prepared to implement the new technology when it's ready.

"Richland County has the latest technology that is available and we will certainly expand that when the FCC finishes all the rules and technology," Byrd said.

The FCC has developed a five-step plan for the implementation of the technology that includes developing mechanisms that can verify a sender's location. See the entire five-step plan in the press release.

With the new technology, emergency responders will be able to respond to more people because the system can handle more data messages at one time than voice messages, Byrd said.

Responders will be able to send text messages back to the person in need, Byrd said, making it easier for some people, including the hearing impaired, to communicate with emergency services.

In today's technology age, some people just prefer texting. Mobile phone users in the U.S. send and receive more text messages than telephone calls, according to a study by Nielsen Mobile. 

"If you look at technology in general it's kind of migrating away from voice and moving towards data," Byrd said. "You have people who would rather send text messages than have a conversation over the phone." 

A phone call is still the best way for responders to quickly get all the information they need, Byrd said.

"It's more advantageous in an emergency situation to actually talk to the person in need of the emergency services," Byrd said. "There's certain information that we need that they may not be able to put into words in a text message, and we can get that faster if we're talking to them on the phone."

The new technology will also allow vehicle security systems like OnStar to send information directly to 911 rather than through a dispatch center, Byrd said.

"This is something that I think everyone is ready to implement," Byrd said, "because it will improve the ability for some people to access emergency services."