County a step closer to bringing Text 911 system online

SYCAMORE – The ability to text a 911 operator in DeKalb County remains months away, but progress in implementing the system is inching forward, according to local emergency personnel.

DeKalb County E911 Coordinator Heather Butler said during a Wednesday emergency telephone system board meeting that the equipment for the county’s Next Generation 911, or NG911, system largely has been installed throughout the county and that emergency response agencies are now working to install the system’s data component. However, she also said the county recently was informed they received an Illinois state grant for $223,223.20 to fund the next five years of the NG911 system’s mapping software and management of its server, equipment, installation, training and project oversight.

“So that was good news,” Butler said.

Butler said next steps include testing the system and ensuring the texting component is functioning properly before making it publicly available. She did not provide an anticipated date the system is expected to go live and said emergency officials are taking a “one step at a time” approach.

“I know everybody’s excited about the possibility of texting 911, but we just want to make sure everything’s in place,” Butler said.

The update comes after Illinois State Police officials announced early Wednesday a notice of intent to award was issued to AT&T to develop and implement a statewide NG911 network. Work on the state project is expected to begin in the next couple of months, according to the news release.

“A whole generation of people grew up learning the three numbers that would bring help,” ISP Director Brendon Kelly said in the Wednesday news release. “With NG911, we’ll have expanded functionality to provide emergency response for the generation who grew up with the internet.”

Next Generation 911 systems use digital or internet-based technology to create a faster system that allows callers to communicate with voice calls or by sending photos, videos or text messages. However, because most 911 systems were built using analog technology, making this changeover requires work and coordination, according to 911.gov.

DeKalb Police Cmdr. Jason Leverton, who also chairs the county’s E911 board, said Solacom is DeKalb County’s service provider for their NG911 system and what has been installed has been good so far. While the county’s and state police systems are similar, he said, state police, who mostly cover interstate highways as opposed to county or city property, implementing their own system is separate from what the county is doing.

“It still doesn’t really cover municipalities or anything like that,” Leverton said, referring to the state’s bid award announcement.

County 911 officials started providing regular check-ins about the system implementation process in April 2018. Emergency dispatch officials in the county confirmed equipment was installed in December, although it still will take months for wireless carriers to agree to support the service.

Leverton said county 911 officials still are working out agreements with every phone provider for the NG911 system - “which is dozens,” he said. “It’s kind of an all-or-nothing.”

DeKalb County previously was set to be the first of the northern Illinois counties to have the 911 texting capability, according to county 911 officials. However, because of some setbacks along the way and the COVID-19 pandemic, counties in southern Illinois ended up being the first to implement the system.

“And some didn’t even have 911 to begin with,” Leverton said, referring to the same system that DeKalb County first implemented in the 1990s. “So their introduction to 911 was NG911.”

Even when the ability to text 911 is ready to go live, Butler said calling emergency dispatchers will continue be the best way to ensure accuracy of calls and information.

“Our message will always be call if you can, text if you can’t,” Butler said.