Shascom assumes answering duties for cellular 911 calls

In order to enhance response to emergencies, SHASCOM has started answering 911 calls placed from cellular telephones in most of Shasta County this month, excluding Anderson, where the Anderson Police Department has jurisdiction.

Prior to this week the CHP had been answering all calls placed from these phones, regardless of the location of the caller. SHACOM has worked closely with the CHP to coordinate the hand-off of this responsibility to assure that the process meets the goal of enhancing public safety.

"The widespread growth of wireless phones and the fact that as much as 40 percent of the nations' people use a wireless phone as their only telephone, has made this change critical to assuring that responses to emergencies are quick," Steve Peach, Director of SHASCOM, said.

He further noted that CHP communications centers handle multiple counties, and cellular call volumes continue to increase.

"By routing those calls to the agency with primary responsibility for the area that the call originates from, overall response will be improved, as the call will not have to be transferred," Peach said.

SHASCOM and CHP worked together to identify cellular telephone coverage areas, which will allow calls that come from freeway areas to continue to be answered directly by CHP, while calls originating off the freeway will be answered directly by SHASCOM.

To support this new role, SHASCOM has installed a new mapping system that will allow mapping of a caller's location based on the information provided by the wireless 911 network.

However, SHASCOM still reminds cellular callers to 911 to be prepared to state their location when asked.

The technology behind locating a caller is limited, especially in rural areas, and the dispatcher receiving your call may only know your location within a few hundred feet, or in some cases, a few hundred yards. By being aware of your general location, and relaying that location to the dispatcher when dialing 911, you can get help to your emergency rapidly.