FCC Commissioner: Half Of All 911 Calls Are Accidental Pocket Dials
- 10 years ago
A blog post by Commissioner Mike O’Rielly shows that dispatchers are dealing with an abundance of accidental calls. Pocket dialing is one of the main reasons for the mistaken 911 dialing.
911 calls are supposed to be for emergencies only. However a blog post by the Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, Michael O’Rielly, outlines how dispatchers are dealing with an abundance of accidental calls.
According to O’Rielly’s “anecdotal” observations while on a cross country trip, pocket dialing is one of the main reasons for the mistaken calling, and he estimates half of all 911 calls fall into this category. That equates to approximately 84 million unnecessary calls per year.
O’Rielly notes “This is a huge waste of resources, raises the cost of providing 911 services, depletes public service answering point morale, and increases the risk that legitimate 911 calls — and first responders — will be delayed.”
The issue isn’t just related to phones dialing from pockets or purses though. Currently the Federal Communications Commission requires devices to make 911 calls even if wireless plans or prepaid services are inactive.
While convenient in many instances, it’s also a problem as kids can find unused phones and start calling the only number that works – 911. To prove his point, O’Rielly pointed out one case submitted by the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board.
It pertained to a child who made 84 911 calls in one night which essentially crippled the center’s ability to respond to true emergency situations.
O’Rielly is hoping the non-emergency calls will stop through education rather than the implementation of new laws.
911 calls are supposed to be for emergencies only. However a blog post by the Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, Michael O’Rielly, outlines how dispatchers are dealing with an abundance of accidental calls.
According to O’Rielly’s “anecdotal” observations while on a cross country trip, pocket dialing is one of the main reasons for the mistaken calling, and he estimates half of all 911 calls fall into this category. That equates to approximately 84 million unnecessary calls per year.
O’Rielly notes “This is a huge waste of resources, raises the cost of providing 911 services, depletes public service answering point morale, and increases the risk that legitimate 911 calls — and first responders — will be delayed.”
The issue isn’t just related to phones dialing from pockets or purses though. Currently the Federal Communications Commission requires devices to make 911 calls even if wireless plans or prepaid services are inactive.
While convenient in many instances, it’s also a problem as kids can find unused phones and start calling the only number that works – 911. To prove his point, O’Rielly pointed out one case submitted by the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board.
It pertained to a child who made 84 911 calls in one night which essentially crippled the center’s ability to respond to true emergency situations.
O’Rielly is hoping the non-emergency calls will stop through education rather than the implementation of new laws.