February 28th, 2018 by WCBC Radio
On Wednesday February 21, 2018, the Board of Public Works approved a contract
with COMTECH(TCS Telecommunications Corporation, a TEXT to 9-1-1 service provider.
The Maryland Association of County Emergency Managers and its Emergency Communications Committee
commend the Board of Public Works for this advancement on TEXT to 9-1-1 and provide the following
information on TEXT to 9-1-1:
' • TEXT to 9-1-1 capabilities currently exist only in Frederick County, which has served as a pilot for this
technology since 2013. At this time, TEXT to 9-1-1 will not function in any other location in Maryland
except Frederick County.
• Maryland counties and Baltimore City operate the State's 24 primary 9-1-1 Call Centers.
• As a result of the Board of Public Works' action last week, county governments may begin a process of
acquiring and implementing TEXT to 9-1-1 by joining the State's contract with COMTECH(TCS. Counties
and Baltimore City may also pursue contracts with other TEXT to 9-1-1 providers independent of the
State contract.
• TEXT to 9-1-1, like any new service, will take time to implement fully. There are several issues that must
be addressed before all of Maryland's 9-1-1 Centers in Maryland will be able to receive and process their
first 9-1-1 text message. These include call-taker training, equipment installation, and cell carrier
coordination.
• TEXT to 9-1-1 availability in your county will depend on your county's individual tirneline. Even once
available, 9-1-1 professionals recommend you only use TEXT to 9-1-1, if you can't call.
• Again: currently, only Frederick County has TEXT to 9-1-1 capability.
Maryland's county governments advocate for TEXT to 9-1-1 and other upgraded 9-1-1 services. A State-level
Commission to address Next Generation 9-1-1 is a 2018 MACo Legislative Initiative. This important advancement
was chosen by Maryland's 23 counties and Baltimore City as one of the Association's top 4 priorities.
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