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Remember when “911” was sacred? Just emergencies, no nonsense? These days, it’s morphed into “that number you call when you don’t know who else to bug.” From third graders needing math help to Annual queries about when the fireworks start (FYI – It’s at DUSK just like LAST YEAR) to neighbors reporting suspicious garden gnomes staring at them, we’ve stretched the 911 network and call takers to the breaking point. But what if instead of building separate networks for every new short code, we just… shared one big one with room for everyone?? Or would that make too much sense for government engineering? Stay with me on this one until the end. I just may make some sense.
Today we’ll be talking about how 911 — and its cousins 988, 811, 311, 211, and friends — can stop living in their lonely network silos and start sharing the same digital playground. It’s about time to rethink how we build networks, cut costs, and actually make life easier for call takers and citizens alike.
The Numbers Game We All Grew Up With
Most everyone today has grown up knowing those three special digits: 911. It’s probably one of the first numbers you memorized, right after your home phone (if you’re old enough to remember having a home phone).
Kids barely able to hold a phone get taught, “If something bad happens, dial 911.” Simple. Effective. Brilliant branding.
Except, well… sometimes that definition of “bad” varies.
There’s the classic recording of a third grader calling 911 for math help. He’s struggling with “takeaways” — subtraction — and bless his heart, he thought the same heroes who tackle burglars and house fires could also solve his homework crisis. The dispatcher, patient as ever, walked him through it. Cute? Absolutely. The right use of 911? Not so much.
That’s the problem. 911 became too good at solving problems. It turned into “call here when you don’t know who else to call.”
A Quick Trip Back in Time
Flash back to 1968. Before 911, you had to memorize the seven-digit numbers for your local police, fire, and ambulance. Every town was different. Confusing? You bet.
So we came up with one easy-to-remember number for everyone. Brilliant idea, right? And it worked — so well that 911 became the Swiss Army knife of municipal services.
Now, instead of “emergencies only,” we’ve got folks using 911 as their personal “get me City Hall” hotline. Lost dog? Call 911. Pothole? Call 911. Squirrel staring at you funny? Definitely call 911.
Enter the Short Code Era
To fix the overload, new short codes were rolled out:
- 988 for mental health and suicide prevention.
- 811 for utility Call Before you Dig Markouts.
- 311 for local government services.
- 211 for citizen support services (think social programs, utilities, housing).
In theory, perfect. Spread the load. Let 911 breathe.
In practice? We built each of these like they were rival theme parks — separate ticket booths, separate rides, separate rules. If you start at 988 and realize you need police, good luck transferring that call seamlessly. The networks don’t play nice.
NG911: The Silo Buster
The good news? 911 is already being rebuilt. The shiny new Next Generation 911 (NG911) system ditches the silos. It’s built for interoperability, meaning agencies can finally pass calls, data, and multimedia across networks like adults sharing toys instead of toddlers hoarding Legos.
Here’s the kicker: while NG911 is being engineered, we have a golden opportunity. Instead of repeating the same mistakes with 988, 311, and 211, why not put them on the same backbone? One shared architecture. One superhighway with multiple on-ramps.
Government Logic (or Lack Thereof)
But of course, this is government. Which means we’re busy duplicating efforts four or five times over. Each service is reinventing the wheel — badly — when we could just share a single, sturdy one.
It’s like buying four Wi-Fi routers for the same house and insisting each family member use a different one. Technically, it works. Logically? It’s madness.
One Backbone, Many Services
Imagine instead:
- 911, 988, 311, 211, and any new short code all sharing the same backend.
- Seamless transfers between services.
- One new connection brings you access to the whole ecosystem.
That’s not just efficiency — that’s smart design. And it’s totally possible with modern tools like SD-WAN, network slicing, and fabric tech.
Public Safety wouldn’t lose priority. In fact, 911 traffic would still sit at the top of the food chain. Bandwidth congestion? Not really an issue. The same network can handle emergency traffic just fine — as long as we design it right.
The Rogue Backhoe Clause
Of course, no network is invincible. Somewhere out there, a rogue backhoe in Kansas is sharpening its teeth, ready to take out a fiber line. That’s why resiliency, redundancy, and smart engineering matter.
But here’s the bottom line: we can’t keep building dusty dirt roads when the rest of the world is on paved digital superhighways. If we’re serious about serving the public, then we need one backbone that can handle all the numbers, all the time.
So, Can’t We All Just Get Along?
Emergencies don’t care about county lines, state borders, or agency silos. Neither should our networks. Let’s stop duplicating, start collaborating, and finally build the Public Safety Internet we deserve.
If you find my blogs informative, I invite you to follow me on X @Fletch911. You can also follow my profiles on LinkedIn and Facebook and catch up on all my blogs at https://Fletch.tv. AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY LATEST PROJECT TiPS: Today on Public Safety @ http://911TiPS.comThank you for taking the time to speak with me; I look forward to our next meeting. Stay safe and take care.
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