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Text-to-911: Requirements &

OptionsHenning Schulzrinne

FCC

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Goals

What have we learned so far?possibilities & options

What are requirements?

What are the trade-offs?Long-term goalsShort-term achievable

Not an official FCC policy statement reflects comments, ex-partes, EAAC, …

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The big picture

Internet(WiFi, 3G/4G)

RTT, SMS, IM

SMS

location PSAP + capability

cellular

voice

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General hard requirements

Work everywhereeven without 3G/4G coverageend-to-end compatible (standards-based)

All mobile devices smart phones & feature phoneswith and without a data plan

Basic automated location capability sufficient for identifying PSAP

Path to NG911 transition should be invisible to users

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Desirable & likely feasible

Short code 911 for SMS

Support for IP-based (“app”) solutions in addition to SMScan support RTT and IM-mode when PSAP is capable

of receiving such

System automatically chooses best option for userbased on PSAP capabilities

NG911 as soon as possible

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Hard constraints

Can’t upgrade all PSAPs no moneyno FCC authority over PSAPshave to support fall back modes (see next)

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Acronyms and concepts

IMS (Internet Multimedia Subsystem)4G approach to carrying multimedia callsSIP-based (like NENA i3)

MMES (Multimedia Emergency Services) IMS extensiondetails TBD

ESInet (Emergency Services IP network) the (private) IP network that connects PSAPs in a

regioncontains call handling and call routing equipment

Acronyms and concepts

OTT (over-the-top)communication services that use Internet (IP)

services for voice or video rather than “native” services directly supported by

cellular provider currently, voice & SMS/MMS

examples: Google Voice, Skype, Vonage, Netflix, iMessage, AOL IM, …

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9PSAP text handling options: direct

Option Advantage Disadvantage

NG911 • Direct communication

• RTT

• Cost of NG911• Time to deploy (8+

years/95%)

Pre-NG911 (text only IP)

• Direct communication

• CAD integration

• PSAP upgrade

Web-based • Direct communication

• Cheap

• No integration with CAD• Requires IP connectivity

TTY • Direct communication

• Every PSAP has one• No personnel costs

• Reliability untested• TTY training and usage• Who do you call when

things go wrong?

TTY with human operator fallback

• as above• may avoid

catastrophic failures

• as above

10PSAP text handling options: assisted

Option Advantages Disadvantages

Telematics voice with direct routing

• Trained staff• Works for every

PSAP

• Not direct – conversation delay

• Staffing cost• Provider?

TRS voice • Providers may be available (?)

• Leverage infrastructure

• Indirect• Answer delay• Staff not emergency-trained

Redirect to text PSAP

• Trained call taker • Dispatch and handling delay

• Finding willing PSAPs?

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PSAP classes

Who can use the system?

Options presented: everybody “soft” registration

“are you sure” message for non-registered users e.g., TRS/VRS users get access to 911 app for smartphones

“hard” registration error message for non-registered users

Affects system cost (if telematics or relay operator) funding possibilities broader goals (text as fallback, Vtech scenarios) per-call cost

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Key questions

What transition mechanisms arepreferableacceptable for a transition period?

How long should the transition period be?Any suggestions on mechanisms to encourage &

accelerate the transition to better mechanisms?

Identify trade-offs and solutions, not just requirements

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