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9-1-1 Industry Alliance Announces Panel Speakers for National Workshop on 9-1-1 Overload

Prominent Public Safety Leaders from across the United States to Share Experiences with Growing
9-1-1 Problem at October Event

ARLINGTON, VA., Sept. 21, 2011 — The 9-1-1 Industry Alliance (9IA) today announced that prominent public safety leaders from across the United States will discuss their personal experiences with 9-1-1 overload at the 9IA National Workshop on 9-1-1 Overload. The event is being held on October 4-5, 2011 at the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center in Washington, D.C.

Panel speakers include:

- Gregg Riddle, president, APCO International - Blair Sutherland, director of telecommunications for the Massachusetts State Police - Liz Graeber, 9-1-1 administrator for the Maricopa Region in Arizona - Teddy Kavaleri, acting director for the Washington, D.C. Office of Unified Communications - Matt Rechkemmer, E-911 program manager for Lee County, Florida - Steven Gordon, director, Orleans Parish 9-1-1 - Lynn Questell, executive director of the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board - John Healy, FCC, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau

“I’m pleased that many of our nation’s top public safety authorities will share their 9-1-1 overload experiences and challenges with a national audience of public safety and government officials,” said George Rice, executive director of 9IA. “We have a strong agenda with a diverse group of thought leaders in public safety and government convening to tackle the difficult and increasing problem of 9-1-1 overload.”

9-1-1 centers throughout the United States increasingly are receiving more emergency phone calls than they can handle in a given time period.

Making matters worse, the 9-1-1 overload problem is compounded by non-emergency and fraudulent calls that tie-up phone lines and operators. It’s not uncommon for public safety answering points to receive 9-1-1 calls from people complaining about barking dogs or problems with their fast-food orders. One man called 9-1-1 from his office to have someone go to his house to remove a mouse that had terrified his wife.

Hosted by 9IA, the workshop is being sponsored by CTIA-The Wireless Association® and co-hosted by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials – International (APCO), the NG 9-1-1 Institute and the National Association of State 9-1-1 Administrators (NASNA).

To register or learn more about the 9-1-1 Industry Alliance’s National Workshop on 9-1-1 Overload please visit www.9-1-1overload.org.

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About the 9-1-1 Industry Alliance
The 9-1-1 Industry Alliance (9IA) represents the industry voice for the emergency communications field. Established in December 2005 by a group of prominent industry leaders, the Alliance plays an important role as the voice of companies on public policy issues impacting 9-1-1 and the emergency response system. Alliance members believe that industry leaders’ expertise can assist public policymakers and government emergency communications professionals as they address complex choices regarding advanced 9-1-1 alternatives in the years ahead. Find out more at www.911alliance.org.

About CTIA
CTIA-The Wireless Association® (www.ctia.org) is an international organization representing the wireless communications industry. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products. CTIA advocates on behalf of its members at all levels of government. The association also coordinates the industry’s voluntary best practices and initiatives, and sponsors the industry’s leading wireless tradeshows. CTIA was founded in 1984 and is based in Washington, DC.

About NENA
NENA serves the public safety community as the only professional organization solely focused on 9-1-1 policy, technology, operations, and education issues. With more than 7,000 members in 48 chapters across the United States and around the globe, NENA promotes the implementation and awareness of 9-1-1 and international three-digit emergency communications systems. NENA works with public policy leaders, emergency services and telecommunications industry partners, like-minded public safety associations, and other stakeholder groups to develop and carry out critical programs and initiatives, to facilitate the creation of an IP-based Next Generation 9-1-1 system, and to establish industry leading standards, training, and certifications. Find out more at www.nena.org.

About APCO International
APCO International (www.apcointl.org) is the world’s largest organization of public safety communications professionals. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide—and the welfare of the general public as a whole—by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.

About the NG 9-1-1 Institute
Formerly known as the E9-1-1 Institute, the NG 9-1-1 Institute is a non-profit organization which shares the mission of the Congressional NG 9-1-1 Caucus to assist in promoting public education on NG 9-1-1 and emergency communications issues. The NG 9-1-1 Institute provides informational support to members of the Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus as they pursue their mission of improving 9-1-1 emergency communications. Gregory L. Rohde serves as the Executive Director and Carla A. Anderson serves as the Deputy Executive Director. Find out more about the NG 9-1-1 Institute at www.e911institute.org.

About NASNA
The purpose of NASNA is to promote information sharing among states with programs dedicated to implementing 9-1-1 emergency telephone systems. NASNA assists states with resolving issues necessary to accomplish statewide implementation and maintenance of their 9-1-1 systems, along with helping to identify and recommend minimum standards for 9-1-1. To learn more about NASNA, please visit www.nasna911.org.

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Lt. General Russel Honoré , U.S. Army (Ret.), to Deliver Opening Keynote Address at 9-1-1 Industry Alliance National Workshop on 9-1-1 Overload

Honoré—Author of "Survival: How a Culture of Preparedness Can Save America and You from Disasters”—Led Hurricane Katrina Relief Response

ARLINGTON, VA., Sept. 20, 2011 — The 9-1-1 Industry Alliance (9IA) is pleased to announce that retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré will be the opening keynote speaker at the 9IA National Workshop on 9-1-1 Overload. The event is being held on October 4-5, 2011, at the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center in Washington, D.C.

Honoré, who served as the 33rd commanding general of the U.S. First Army at Fort Gillem, Ga., may be best known for his service as the commander of Joint Task Force Katrina. In that capacity, he led the U.S. Department of Defense response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

“Since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast in 2005 the United States has made strides toward achieving what I call a Culture of Preparedness,” said Honoré. “However, there’s still a lot of work to do. 9-1-1 overload is a growing problem that can significantly affect emergency and disaster response. I look forward to addressing leading public safety authorities and government officials on the critical issue of 9-1-1 overload and the importance of doing everything possible to alleviate it.”

Throughout the country, hundreds of 9-1-1 centers are receiving far more emergency phone calls than they can reasonably answer in a short period of time.

In May, more than 150 people in Joplin, Missouri lost their lives in what became the deadliest single tornado to strike the United States in nearly 60 years.

Not surprisingly, the two public safety answering points (PSAPs) that serve citizens in the area were overwhelmed with hundreds of calls from people in desperate need of emergency assistance. Unfortunately, there simply weren’t enough phone lines or call-takers to answer all the cries for help.

“We were overloaded,” recalls April Tarrant, Jasper County 9-1-1 director. “Within the first hour, we handled nearly 400 9-1-1 calls. By the time 24 hours had elapsed the number of calls had grown to approximately 1,400.”

To register or learn more about the 9-1-1 Industry Alliance’s National Workshop on 9-1-1 Overload please visit www.9-1-1overload.org.

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9-1-1 Industry Alliance to Host National Workshop on 9-1-1 Overload

9IA Issues Call for Speakers and Papers

ARLINGTON, VA., June 1, 2011 — The 9-1-1 Industry Alliance (9IA) today announced it will host a national workshop on 9-1-1 overload on October 4-5, 2011, at the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center in Washington, D.C. Public safety decision-makers and government officials are being invited to engage in a national dialog on this important problem, which affects people in need of help due to incidents ranging from routine emergencies to major disasters.

Several prominent industry associations are supporting the workshop to include sponsorship from CTIA-The Wireless Association® and co-hosting by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials – International (APCO), the E9-1-1 Institute and the National Association of State 9-1-1 Administrators (NASNA). The workshop will feature prominent speakers, working sessions and panel discussions intended to drive a national dialog that will help alleviate 9-1-1 overload situations.

“Increasingly, during routine emergencies, major weather events, natural disasters, mass shootings and other incidents, our nation’s 9-1-1 centers are being overwhelmed with more phone calls than they can reasonably handle in a given period of time,” said Reid French, vice chairman of 9IA. “The unfortunate result in these situations is that some 9-1-1 calls go unanswered. Consequently, 9IA believes a national workshop is needed to address this growing problem.”

According to 9IA, more than 260 million calls are made to 9-1-1 each year. A significant reason for the large volume of calls 9-1-1 centers are receiving can be attributed to natural disasters and weather-related events, along with the increasing number of people who call for help using mobile phones, often to report a traffic accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than five million driving accidents take place in the United States each year. Meanwhile, The Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2009, published by the International Disaster Database, reported that between 2000 and 2008 there was an average of 392 natural disasters annually, affecting more than 230 million people each year worldwide.

More information can be found at www.911alliance.org. Thought leaders interested in submitting a speaker proposal or presenting a paper at this prominent public safety event should contact 9IA Vice Chairman Reid French at (404) 217-8542 or reid.french@911alliance.org.

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About the 9-1-1 Industry Alliance
The 9-1-1 Industry Alliance ("9IA") represents the industry voice of the public safety industry. Established in December 2005 by a group of prominent leaders of the 9-1-1 industry, the Alliance plays an important role as the voice of industry companies on public policy issues impacting 9-1-1 and the emergency response system. It is the Alliance's belief that the expertise of industry leaders can assist public policymakers and government emergency communications professionals as they address complex choices regarding advanced 9-1-1 alternatives in the years ahead. Find out more at www.911alliance.org.

About the E9-1-1 Institute
The E9-1-1 Institute is a non-profit organization which shares the mission of the Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus to assist in promoting public education on E9-1-1 and emergency communications issues. The E9-1-1 Institute provides informational support to members of the Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus as they pursue their mission of improving 9-1-1 emergency communications. Gregory L. Rohde serves as the Executive Director and Carla A. Anderson serves as the Deputy Executive Director. Find out more about the E9-1-1 Institute at www.e911institute.org.