TeleCommunication Systems’ Text-to-911 Technology on Track to Support 100 Million U.S. Population by Mid-2016

TeleCommunication Systems, Inc., a world leader in secure and highly reliable wireless communication technology, announced that it now supports more than 700 public safety answering points (PSAPs) with production service in 38 U.S. states or territories, serving a population of over 70 million U.S. citizens. TCS continues to lead the nation’s text-to-911 service deployments with more than 180 additional PSAPs now in process to implement text-to-911, which will increase the population of wireless subscribers served to nearly 100 million by mid-2016.

TCS simplifies deployment for PSAPs interested in receiving text-to-911 messages by proactively initiating interoperability work with legacy providers, text service providers that use proprietary protocols, and next generation providers that use the standards-based Message Session Relay Protocol (MSRP). TCS’ EMedia solution aggregates all text-to-911 traffic from multiple wireless carriers and TCC vendors, allowing Public Safety Authorities to interact with a single entity for text-to-911. EMedia supports transfer of text sessions between different text-handling interfaces and allows a PSAP to utilize a single-user interface for text-to-911 (TTY, Web or text-enabled CPE).

News Facts:
• Text-to-911 has proven to save lives in a wide range of circumstances including noise-sensitive situations, access for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, when network congestion or poor coverage create challenges for voice calls, and an alternative for those contemplating suicide who turn to text as their final, silent call for help.
• In 2015, TCS’ customer list expanded to include the leading VoIP provider, the top four Tier I wireless carriers, and numerous Tier II providers.
• States or regions with at least one TCS deployment of text-to-911 in production include Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
• As of the beginning of January 2016, due to TCS’ focused deployment effort of PSAPs, the percent of delivered texts to 911 has increased by 92% over 2014 rates.
• TCS was the first to deploy text-to-911 to PSAPs via all three methods of TTY, Direct IP and HTTPS using secure web protocols, and next generation MSRP and was the first to provide nationwide coverage.
• On May 15, 2014, TCS participated in the first “interoperable” text-to-911 production deployment, successfully connecting wireless carriers, text service providers and emergency communications centers.
• Since October 2012, TCS customers have, on a nationwide basis, delivered text-to-911 messages to receiving PSAPs or otherwise delivered bounce-back messages. If a PSAP is not yet capable of receiving text-to-911, the carriers using the TCS solution all deliver a “bounce-back” message, informing the sender to place a voice call to 9-1-1.
• The FCC has created a Text-to-911 Readiness and Certification Registry, which provides information on each PSAP that is ready to accept texts. To participate, 911 authorities or PSAPs can submit the FCC’s PSAP Text-to-911 Readiness and Certification Form that provides entries for the PSAP to (1) indicate that it is text-ready and (2) include its contact information and other information necessary to notify covered text providers of the PSAP’s readiness. For more information, visit: https://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/psap-text-911-readiness-and-certification

TCS Safety & Security Group Senior Vice President Lynne Houserman stated: “TCS’ text-to-911 deployments are on track to serve nearly one-third of our nation’s population. This momentous expansion of our text-to-911 technology underscores TCS’ record of achievement in innovations that empower better public safety through improved emergency 9-1-1 services, and it illustrates how TCS technology can provide broad public safety support for text and multimedia capabilities as the evolution to next generation 9-1-1 continues.”

Since deploying the first U.S. wireless E9-1-1 solution in 1998, TCS has been leading public safety solutions for wireless Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1), NG9-1-1 and E1-1-2. TCS supports about half of all U.S. wireless E9-1-1 calls, serving more than 140 million wireless and IP-enabled devices. TCS offers the only TL 9000-certified network operations center (NOC) for wireless and VoIP E9-1-1 services in the United States. TCS is leading the enablement of text-to 9-1-1, and TCS leads the nation in emergency services IP network (ESInet) deployments. Its E9-1-1 and NG9-1-1 solutions ensure that a subscriber's emergency call routes to the appropriate PSAP and automatically pinpoints the caller's location information. For more information visit: TCS Public Safety.

About TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS), headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, is a world leader in secure and highly reliable wireless communications. Our patented solutions, global presence, operational support and engineering talent enable 9-1-1, commercial location-based services and deployable wireless infrastructure; cybersecurity; defense and aerospace components; and applications for mobile location-based services and messaging. Our principal customers are wireless network operators, defense and public safety government agencies, and Fortune 150 enterprises requiring high reliability and security.

Learn more at www.telecomsys.com.