Idaho’s 911 system is getting a major upgrade to improve reliability
IDAHO — Idaho will soon be upgrading to a digital 911 system that can receive texts, photos, and videos while pinpointing caller locations within seconds.
“Most of our citizens nowadays don’t remember the day when there was not 911,” Payette County Sheriff Andy Creech said.
He says the current system in Idaho routes emergency calls based on cell tower locations, which can lead to misrouted calls that delay critical response times.
“There are failures that are happening in the state of Idaho with our current system,” Creech said. “We have mis-routed 911 calls all the time when people are trying to call 911 and get help in Payette County but they end up in Malhuer County.”
The Idaho Public Safety Communications Commission approved $15 million in grant funding to implement Next Generation 911, which will replace decades-old analog infrastructure.
“We are proud to have been part of the process in developing a strategy to bring Next Generation 911 to Idaho,” said Creech, who is the IPSCC Chairman. “This transition will save lives and strengthen the connection between 911 callers and our law enforcement, fire, and EMS teams.”
The new system enables emergency dispatchers to receive real-time mobile location data, text messages, photos, and videos. It also provides live call transcription and allows dispatch centers to serve as backups for one another.
A key feature of the technology is its ability to quickly route calls based on a caller’s exact location, including specific rooms in large buildings. The system is also designed to handle call surges during disasters.
Forty-two of Idaho’s 44 counties will participate in the program, funded through the Emergency Communications Grant Fee, which adds a 25-cent surcharge on phone bills. The two counties not included in the grant are Ada County, which already upgraded its own system, as well as Cassia County, which may still join, but is exploring a different vendor option than the other counties to upgrade.
The Idaho Office of Emergency Management says it will work with counties and emergency responders on implementation, training, and public education during the transition.
