CHARLESTON — Telecommunicators from county 911 centers around West Virginia gathered Tuesday in Charleston to hear about state and federal efforts to support their work.
The inaugural 911 Emerging Technologies Symposium at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel was put on by the West Virginia National Emergency Number Association (NENA), the West Virginia Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and the West Virginia Enhanced 911 Council.
The symposium had 19 vendors showcasing new equipment, software and technologies to improve 911 systems.
Counties in West Virginia use enhanced 911 — or E911 — which tries to tie locations to incoming phone calls in order to direct first responders in an emergency.
But now the transition has begun to Next Generation 911 (NG911), which includes pinpoint location accuracy and faster call-answering times.
West Virginia NENA Chapter President Russell Emrick said five counties have begun upgrading to NG911, while several others have initiated the procurement process to start upgrading.
“Next Generation 911 is long overdue, but it’s an important improvement,” Emrick said. “Imagine … how many rooms are inside this hotel. If we’re trying to send someone to help you in an emergency or medical crisis, we don’t need to be searching room-by-room trying to find you. So, Next Generation 911 does pinpoint location accuracy, the same as when you order food or order a taxi or an Uber or Lyft. It also is faster. There’s no setup time for the phone calls.”
Emrick also said 70% of counties in the state are now capable of receiving text-to-911, with the goal of having all 55 counties capable by next year.
“Something we’ve learned from numerous emergencies nationwide is that the younger generation expects to be able to text 911 as well,” Emrick said. “Our goal is to make that 100% by the end of this fiscal year … or have a strategic plan for every county.”
A bill passed by the Legislature and awaiting the signature of Gov. Jim Justice would authorize 911 personnel to be members of the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System under certain circumstances. Senate Bill 439 would allow 911 employees with 20 years of employment to be able to retire and receive retirement benefits by age 50. Previously, 911 employees were part of the Public Employees Retirement System, where the age limit is 60.
“We’ve got law enforcement and emergency personnel and deputies that all have their individual plans, but there was nothing here for people that are really on the front line, the ones that receive the first call and get those other first responders to the scene,” said Senate Pensions Committee Chairman Eric Nelson, R-Kanawha, the lead sponsor of the bill. “Not only do you have the ability to retire at an earlier age, but your multiple is increased.”
U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., spoke at the symposium about work at the congressional level to provide support for 911 systems. The Enhancing First Response Act introduced in the U.S. Senate earlier this year would classify 911 telecommunicators as protective service workers in the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. Currently, 911 dispatchers are classified as clerical workers.
“The retirement plan that you put together at the state level, along with some of the enhancements that we can make at the federal level all across the country, are going to be some of the keys to getting people to want to make this an occupation for life, that they can serve their counties or their regions, but they can also support their families and have a respected occupation that does not go unnoticed,” Capito said.
Congress is also considering reauthorizing the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to conduct spectrum auctions for specific radio frequencies and how funds from those auctions are appropriated. Capito said she would like to see those proceeds continue to flow to rural states, such as West Virginia, for broadband expansion and improvements that can work hand-in-hand with NG911.
“Those are the dollars that can help with all of (what) you see on the maps,” Capito said. “I’m impressed with all the folks that have already done enhancements, but it will make sure that those enhancements can be done in every county and in every situation. So, we are pushing to get that spectrum auction up and out.”
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., talked about the return of congressionally directed spending, also known as earmarks. Both Manchin and Capito are members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and are able to help direct tax dollars back to West Virginia and to counties for projects such as 911 center upgrades.
“I’ve been proud of every dollar that we’ve been able to secure together working for West Virginia and seeing what results we get,” Manchin said.