Community Relations

In the United States, the first catalyst for a nationwide emergency telephone number was in 1957, when the National Association of Fire Chiefs recommended use of a single number for reporting fires.

In 1967, the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice recommended that a "single number should be established" nationwide for reporting emergency situations. The use of different telephones for each type of emergency was determined to be contrary to the purpose of a single universal number. Other Federal Government Agencies and various governmental officials also supported and encouraged the recommendation. As a result of the interest in this issue, the President's Commission on Civil Disorders turned to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a solution.

In November 1967, the FCC met with the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) to find a means of establishing a universal emergency number that could be implemented quickly. In 1968, AT&T announced that it would establish the digits 9-1-1 (nine-one-one) as the emergency code throughout the United States.

The code 9-1-1 was chosen because it best fit the needs of all parties involved. First, and most important, it meets public requirements because it is brief, easily remembered and can be dialed quickly. Second, because it is a unique number, never having been authorized as an office code, area code, or service code, it best meets the long range numbering plans and switching configurations of the telephone industry.

Congress backed AT&T's proposal and passed legislation allowing use of only the numbers 9-1-1 when creating a single emergency service, thereby making 9-1-1 a standard emergency number nationwide. A Bell System policy was established to absorb the cost of central office modifications and any additions necessary to accommodate the 9-1-1 code as part of the general rate base. The Enhanced 9-1-1, or E9-1-1, subscriber is responsible for paying network trunking costs according to tariffed rates, and for purchasing answering equipment from the vendor of their choice.

On February 16, 1968, Senator Rankin Fite completed the first 9-1-1 call made in the United States in Haleyville, Alabama. The serving telephone company was the Alabama Telephone company. This Haleyville 9-1-1 system is still in operation today.

In March 1973, the White House's Office of Telecommunications issued a national policy statement which recognized the benefits of 9-1-1, encouraged the nationwide adoption of 9-1-1 and provided for the establishment of a Federal Information Center to assist units of government in planning and implementation. the interest in the concept off 9-1-1 can be attributed primarily to the recognition of characteristics of modern society, i.e., increased incidences of crimes, accidents, medical emergencies, inadequacy of existing emergency reporting methods and the continued growth and mobility of the population.

In the early 1970s, AT&T began the development of sophisticated features for 9-1-1 with a pilot program in Alameda County, California. The feature was "selective call routing." This pilot program supported the theory behind the Executive Office of Telecommunication's Policy. By the end of 1976, 9-1-1 was serving about 17% of the population of the United States. In 1979, approximately 26% of the population of the United States had 9-1-1 service, and nine states had enacted 9-1-1 legislation. At this time, 9-1-1 service was growing at the rate of 70 new systems per day. By 1987, 50% of the US population had access to 9-1-1 emergency service numbers.

In addition, Canada recognized the advantages of a single emergency number and chose to adopt 9-1-1 rather than use a different means of emergency reporting service, thus unifying the concept and giving 9-1-1 international stature.

At the end of the 20th century, nearly 93% of the population of the United States was covered by some type of 9-1-1 service. Ninety-five percent of that coverage was Enhanced 9-1-1. Approximately 96% of the geographic US is covered by some type of 9-1-1 service.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states:

No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Jonesboro E-911 Title VI Policy Statement

Jonesboro E-911 assures that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, or sex, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, and the Civil rights Restoration Act of 1987 (P.L. 100.259) be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Jonesboro E-911 further assures every effort will be made to ensure non-discrimination in all of its programs and activities, whether those programs and activities are federally funded or not.

In the event Jonesboro E-911 distributes federal aid funds to another governmental entity or other sub-recipient, Jonesboro E-911 will include Title VI language in all written agreements and will monitor for compliance.

Jonesboro E-911's Office of the Title VI Coordinator is responsible for initiating and monitoring Title VI activities, preparing required reports and other Jonesboro E-911 responsibilities as required by 23 CFR 200 and 49 CFR 21.

Ronnie Sturch

Jonesboro E-911 Director

August 2013

Titulo VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964 establece lo siguiente:

Ninguna persona en los Estados Unidos, por motivos de raza, color u origen nacional, ser excluida de participar en, ser negado los beneficios de, o ser sujeto a discriminación bajo cualquier programa o actividad que reciba asistencia financiera federal.

Jonesboro E-911 Titulo VI Declaración de Politica

Jonesboro E-911 asegura que a ninguna persona por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional o sexo, según lo previsto en el Titulo VI del Acta de Derechos Civiles de 1964, según enmendada, y la Le de Derecho Civil de Restauración de 1987 (PL 100.259) será excludio de participar en, ser negado los beneficios de, o ser de otra manera sujeto a discriminación bajo cualquier programa o actividad que reciba asistencia financiera federal.

Jonesboro E-911 asegura además haremos todo lo posible por garantizar la no discriminación en todos sus programas y actividades, ya se trate de programas y actividades con fondos federales o no.

En el caso del Jonesboro E-911 distribuye los fondos federales de ayuda a otra entidad gubernamental o de otro sub-receptor, Jonesboro E-911 incluyen el Titulo VI lengua en todos los acuerdos por escrito y hará un seguimiento de su cumplimiento.

Oficina del Condado de Jonesboro E-911 Distrito del Coordinator del Titulo VI es responable de iniciar y supervisar las actividades del Titulo VI, la preparación de los informes requeridos y otros Jonesboro E-911 responsabilidades como es requerido po 23 CFR 200 y 49 CFR 21.

Ronnie Sturch

Jonesboro E-911 Director

Agosto de 2013