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Tuesday, February 22, 2000

Bell Atlantic is modifying format to match other area phone systems Botetourt's new 911 system to be delayed to make it compatible

Nonconforming data could result in dispatchers directing an emergency response to the wrong address.

By JOANNE POINDEXTER - THE ROANOKE TIMES

FINCASTLE -- Botetourt County has delayed the startup of its new Enhanced 911 system for up to two months.

The system's automatic-locator feature still needs to be perfected, Bell Atlantic spokesman Fred Walters told the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors.

Botetourt is the trial site for a new database format used to show dispatchers automatically where an E-911 call is coming from, Walters said.

The delay is necessary to reduce the chance of mistakes and to give Bell Atlantic time to standardize the data that are used to transmit and receive information.

Botetourt County has a new dispatch center and can identify callers by name and phone number. But the dispatcher must ask the caller for a location, said County Administrator Jerry Burgess.

Automatic location shows the name, phone number, location and the nearest fire and rescue squads. The information will appear on the dispatcher's screen when a call is answered, Burgess said.

Bell Atlantic is converting its data format to meet standards established by the National Emergency Number Association.

The company said an increasing number of telephone companies share database information, making it necessary to have a standard format and content.

Bell Atlantic found a few problems as it was preparing to start up the Botetourt system, said Spencer Suter, the county's E-911 coordinator.

Suter said telephone companies and localities in the county had been using nonstandardized data systems that could cause problems during the transfer of information.

The mismatched data could cause errors such as sending rescue or law enforcement personnel to the wrong address.

Standardizing the databases, Suter said, "makes data transfer quicker, easier and more accurate. It lessens the chances for mistakes."

http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/news/story88887.html

-- Dee (T1Colt556@aol.com), February 22, 2000