AT&T, Texas Emergency Communications to Modernize 911 Platform

The Texas Commission on State Emergency Communications (CSEC) adopted AT&T ESInet™ as its NextGen9-1-1 platform to transition 17 Regional Planning Commission (RPC) public safety answering points (PSAPs) to NG9-1-1.

The first nine counties, which are part of the Nortex RPC, recently went live with AT&T ESInet serving nearly 80,000 Texans with a more reliable and improved 9-1-1 experience.

AT&T ESInet is built on AT&T’s highly resilient IP network. The IP-based call routing service uses i3 standards from the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) to modernize legacy 9-1-1 infrastructure. And, in today’s environment, that’s crucial.

The nine counties that make up the Nortex RPC – Jack, Young, Montague, Bowie, Clay, Archer, Baylor, Foard and Hardeman – provide police, fire, and EMS services. All the PSAPs were live and taking calls within six months of adoption.

The Nortex PSAPs receive approximately 140,000 9-1-1 calls each year. When calls spike, AT&T ESInet can automatically distribute calls to neighboring PSAPs, which can lead to improved 9-1-1 call management. This will make it easier for PSAPs to be more responsive to emergencies.

“Emergencies occur across the country daily, but when a severe or prolonged disaster strikes, like COVID-19, the demands on local emergency response organizations are extreme,” said Tim Bryant, 9-1-1 Emergency Services Director, Nortex RPC. “We are proud to work with AT&T as we take advantage of the advances in information and communications technology to help ensure our citizens get the best possible service.”

“Having advanced 9-1-1 tools is an issue of public and personal safety. For rural communities like those in the Nortex RPC, having the same level of service and modern features as those in major metro areas is critical,” said Stacy Schwartz, AT&T. “With the latest technology, these Texas counties can help call takers do their jobs more efficiently and continue to provide top-notch emergency response for the community.”