King County testing 911 system that allows text messages

In a couple of years, residents of King County won't just be able to call 911 in an emergency. They will be able to send text messages — and even photos and video.

King County is one of five areas in the country that are testing a so-called Next Generation 911, or NG-911. It's meant to expand emergency services to the point that any communication device can call 911, from anywhere.

The capabilities of 911 are being outpaced by communication technology as more people abandon land lines in favor of cellphones, said Gordon Vanauken, a telecommunications specialist with Kimball Technology working on the project.

"Those devices are being used by the general public, and as people helping the general public, we need access to those devices," Vanauken said.

NG-911 is currently in its final weeks of testing. Emergency services in Helena, Mont., St. Paul, Minn., Warsaw, Ind., and Rochester, N.Y., have also been testing and training on the system.

The program will be reviewed through August and a final report evaluating the system will be published afterward.

The advantages of NG-911, even in this early stage, are apparent to law-enforcement officials. Particularly useful will be the ability to text-message an emergency operator, said Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske.

"I think it's clearly needed," he said.

He cited a hypothetical example in which a gunman on a bus or a similar situation made it impossible for victims to make a regular phone call.

"Right now, there's no way for them to text, so these kinds of things are pretty critical," Kerlikowske said.

Text-messaging capabilities could also benefit deaf people or others who can't use regular phones, said Marlys Davis, King County Enhanced 9-1-1 program manager.

Davis estimated that it would still be at least two years before a system capable of receiving text messages could be implemented in King County.

The Next Generation 911 testing is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, but money for King County to actually implement the service has not been budgeted yet.

Possibilities include federal grants, or state legislation expanding the telephone tax to other devices, such as broadband phones, Davis said.

"That absolutely needs to be expanded to include these new technologies so all the devices that access 911 can help pay for it," Davis said.

NG-911 would also offer other features.

Mapping technology would provide locations of the cellphones used to call or text. Currently, the King County system gives a latitude and longitude location, but accuracy varies.

It would also offer direct communication from crash-notification technology, such as OnStar. Currently, OnStar operators have to call 911 after receiving calls for help.

Sean Rose: 206-464-2292 or srose@seattletimes.com