Broward County is preparing to roll out a major upgrade to its 911 system that will allow residents to send video, photos and text messages during emergencies while also improving response times and location tracking for dispatchers.<\/p>\n
The County Commission is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a contract with Motorola Solutions worth up to $25 million over 10 years to replace the county\u2019s existing emergency call system with a \u201cNext Generation 911\u201d platform.<\/p>\n
According to a Sun Sentinel report, the upgrade is designed to modernize Broward\u2019s emergency communications infrastructure, allowing callers to share real-time video from cellphones and giving dispatchers more precise tools to locate people in distress.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt takes 911 communication to another level,\u201d Broward Mayor Mark Bogen said. \u201cThis new technology will allow people to communicate with 911 by voice, by text, by video. It\u2019s like going from dial-up to high-speed Internet.\u201d<\/p>\n
County officials say the system will significantly improve response efficiency, including reducing call connection time from about four seconds to roughly one second \u2014 a change they say could be critical in life-threatening situations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t sound like a big deal, but when you\u2019re in an emergency, every second counts,\u201d Bogen said.<\/p>\n
The new system will also automatically route incoming calls to the nearest of Broward\u2019s three 911 call centers. If one center becomes overwhelmed, calls will be redistributed to other county facilities, with the potential for support from neighboring counties during large-scale emergencies.<\/p>\n
Under the \u201cNext Generation 911\u201d model, residents will be able to activate cellphone cameras during emergencies, allowing dispatchers to view incidents in real time. Officials say this could be especially useful when callers are unable to speak during medical crises or active crime situations.<\/p>\n