Can You Text 9-1-1?

Answer:  Not yet.

 

From Cowlitz County 9-1-1 Center

 

On Thursday May 15^th the FCC announced that the cellular providers are now able to deliver text to 9-1-1, however not all the public safety answering points are prepared to accept the text to 9-1-1.  In Washington State to date there are no PSAP’s with equipment installed and successfully tested to accept text to 9-1-1, so if a cellular subscriber sends a text message to 9-1-1 they will get a bounce back message that will says “For emergency only. CALL 9-1-1. Public Safety in this area does not support text service at this time.” 

 King County is currently testing the functionality in coordination of the State 911 Office, and phone venders to determine the precise design that will function properly with the 9-1-1 phone network and PSAP phone equipment.  As soon as solution is identified by the state and this service is functioning at the Cowlitz County 9-1-1 Center we will notify the media and educate the public on the service.