When it comes to text messaging 9-1-1, “it can’t be about it – but about when and how.”

Those were the words of FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski at the annual APCO Conference in Philadelphia last year.

Monday, FCC Chief of Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau David Turetsky echoed that sentiment, expressing a desire to develop rules governing a limited SMS text to 9-1-1 service by October.

“SMS to 9-1-1 trials are being done in Iowa, Durham, NC, and Vermont,” Turetsky told a packed room during an FCC Panel at the annual APCO Conference in Minneapolis Monday afternoon. “Verizon and AT&T hope to deploy text to 9-1-1 service to their customers next year.”

Before that can happen, the FCC needs to outline some specific rules governing how PSAPs receive and handle the calls, how providers route the calls, and how the public should place the calls.

Turetsky outline obvious limitations in texting 9-1-1, including the fact SMS was never designed to serve as a method to contact 9-1-1 and automatic location information isn’t available. However, he said there are positive reasons for endorsing an SMS to 9-1-1 option, including exploring the next step of text to 9-1-1 service, the speed and ease most users can text message, and ease of access to the deaf community.

“We are preparing a framework and timeframe for deployment for carriers,” he said.
The framework will be flexible enough to allow stakeholders – PSAPs and commercial providers – to transition and follow a clear path when they are ready.

“We also need to give attention to public education,” Turetsky said. “The public needs to recognize text to 9-1-1 as an alternative, but not a substitute to calling 9-1-1.”