Escanaba, Michigan – September 16, 2015 – The Upper Peninsula 911 Authority (UPA 911) and Peninsula Fiber Network, LLC (PFN) announce that all emergency call centers in the Upper Peninsula now support emergency text messages from wireless devices to 9-1-1. Beginning Monday September 21, 2015 individuals anywhere in the Upper Peninsula can send a text message to 9-1-1 in an emergency.
“We are pleased that we are able to launch this service in all 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula at once,” said Tim McKee, Director of Chippewa County Central Dispatch. “Calling and speaking with a dispatcher is still the best way of reaching emergency services but that is not always an option.” Texting to 9-1-1 is a critical service that will benefit anyone who is not able to speak due to an emergency such as a home invasion or an abusive partner. It is also intended to help individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability. It can also be a benefit in areas where wireless service is limited.
“Please remember to Call when you can; Text when you can’t”, said Gary Johnson, Manager of Marquette County Central Dispatch. There are a few important tips to remember when texting to 9-1- 1. Send brief messages without using abbreviations or slang. Be prepared to communicate your exact location and the emergency help that is needed. Stay with your wireless device and be prepared to answer questions and follow instructions from the 9-1-1 dispatcher.
The Upper Peninsula 911 Authority has been working with Peninsula Fiber Network, LLC (PFN) to bring Next Generation 911 services to the Upper Peninsula. “We have worked closely with the UP 911 Authority to implement a system that is capable of supporting new technologies such as texting to 911” said Dave McCartney, General Manager of Peninsula Fiber Network, LLC (PFN). “The 911 network is designed to be fully redundant, resilient and survivable as defined by the newest FCC guidelines.”
The Upper Peninsula 911 Authority is the official Governmental Authority established by the Emergency Management Directors and County Commissioners from all 15 Upper Peninsula counties for the purpose of providing “best in class” 911 Emergency Response Services to the residents of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Peninsula Fiber Network, LLC is a joint venture between Baraga Telephone Company in Baraga Michigan and Hiawatha Communications Incorporated in Munising Michigan. The company provides wholesale and retail transport services, voice and high speed broadband internet transit throughout the Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan and Northern Wisconsin.
Click To Submit Press Releases, News, Calendar Items, and Community Events to mediaBrew radio stations WFXD, WKQS, WRUP, GTO, Fox Sport Marquette, and 106.1 The Sound
Marquette, Michigan Calendar; Ishpeming Calendar; Negaunee Calendar; Gwinn Calendar; Negaunee Calendar and Events; Upper Peninsula Calendar of Events; Escanaba Events and Calendar