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The Elliott County Fiscal Court’s 911 system is reportedly the first public safety answering point in the U.S. to be prepared for Next Generation 911 capabilities. The Elliott County Fiscal Court’s 911 system uses Connections Framework from InterAct Public Safety (News - Alert) Systems.

 

InterAct provides integrated multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional public safety and homeland security systems technology.

 

The new infrastructure of Elliot County helps it to utilize an all IP-based emergency communication system and meet i3 specifications. The InterActNG911 Controller, an integral component of the InterAct Connections Framework, enables Elliott County to receive and react to 911 calls faster, gain enhanced 911 emergency service capabilities and also to reduce operating costs.

 

The county will also deploy the computer aided dispatch, InterActCAD, and mapping software, InterActGIS from InterAct which provides 911 dispatchers with powerful tools to respond to emergency situations and deploy personnel as required.

 

According to Jim Skaggs, 911 coordinator for Elliott County, it’s important to be prepared for whichever method citizens choose to communicate with them. The fully integrated systems from InterAct enable Elliott County to enhance emergency communications. Skaggs also added that Elliott County is impressed that InterAct’s CAD and mapping applications are seamlessly integrated with each other and also with Next Generation phone systems.

 

The main reason for the technological migration is the commitment of Hon. Judge David Blair to utilize the most advanced solutions possible to protect county residents. The County’s PSAP is able to pinpoint the location of wired callers through voice over IP lines after the InterAct equipment was put in place. After the recent upgrading of Mountain Rural Telecom Cooperative to a secure IP network, it is possible to route calls from its central office to the county’s PSAP. Mountain Rural Telecom Cooperative is the voice service provider responsible for the InterAct installation.

 

With the state government building an IP backbone across Kentucky, Elliot County is among the first communities that benefit from end-to-end IP communications. Elliot County was awarded $109,947 by the Kentucky Homeland Security office in grant funds for equipment purchases and $82,000 by CMRS Board of Kentucky provided as grant to provide for GIS mapping and addressing. In addition, the Buffalo Trace Area Development District, along with the FIVCO Area Development District, provided the technical staff to complete the 911 addressing and GIS mapping.

 

According to Andrew J. “Flip” Filipowski, executive chairman and CEO of  InterAct Public Safety Systems, if someone calls 911, it takes up to 15 seconds before the dispatcher can see the caller’s number. If the call is disconnected before that number is received, the dispatcher might not be able to identify and call the person back. However, after the IP infrastructure has been put in place, Elliott County dispatchers instantly receive the caller’s number, thereby improving public safety.

 

InterAct technology provides advantages like costs savings and emergency text messages to Elliot County. InterAct has reduced the cost of adding new phone trunks to a few hundred dollars after the IP infrastructure has been put in place. Elliott County will also be able to receive 911 text messages, as well as telematics, video, audio, sensor and camera inputs without a significant equipment upgrade after NG capabilities become available.