911 call center consolidation is critical, speakers said...
911 call center consolidation is critical, speakers said during a panel on the next generation-911 transition at the NARUC meeting in Denver Monday. “Folks, it’s time for us to begin to look at how we can do consolidations and be…
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more effective in our operation of” public safety answering points, said Jim Anderson, CEO of El Paso-Teller 911 Authority. He recently completed an NG-911 contract and talked about the purchase of a phone switch that would have cost about $500,000 per site. “I bought one,” he said. “I'm running eight of those 10 sites on one switch, with the capability of doing all of southern Colorado out of my phone switch.” Technology is moving faster than 911 call centers, he said. National Emergency Number Association CEO Brian Fontes said that “inevitably, consolidation is going to occur.” He cited economic and technology reasons. “Consolidation is going to happen -- it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s going to be a reduction in the labor force,” said Fontes. Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials President Terry Hall agreed on the need for consolidation, noting the expense of NG-911 equipment. Fontes said leadership will be needed from the state utility commissions during the transition.