Fairfax, Va. – Fire Chief G. Keith Bryant, IAFC president and chairman of the board, today appeared before the Federal Communications Commission and delivered a statement articulating the importance of 911 location technologies to first responders and public safety.
The FCC held an open meeting to discuss location accuracy for emergency calls, including indoor calls.
"Over the years, the American public has come to expect that they will have reliable 911 service," Bryant said. "When citizens call 911, they usually are in a moment of great peril and require emergency assistance from their local fire and emergency service or local law-enforcement agency."
"Unfortunately, there are no standards today for indoor location accuracy," Bryant continued. "So, 911 operators must spend critical time trying to determine the location of the caller before they can dispatch aid. In addition, the arriving emergency responders may have to spend crucial minutes locating a person in need of aid, when they arrive on scene. This problem will become more urgent as more Americans rely upon wireless devices as a replacement to traditional landline coverage."
Bryant's full oral statement is available on the IAFC website.
About the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
The IAFC represents the leadership of firefighters and emergency responders worldwide. IAFC members are the world's leading experts in firefighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search and rescue, and public safety legislation. Since 1873, the IAFC has provided a forum for its members to exchange ideas, develop professionally and uncover the latest products and services available to first responders.
Learn more