Mercer County approves $293,000 upgrade to Next Generation 911 system

Mercer County is beginning a major upgrade to its emergency communications system that officials say will improve caller location information, speed up call transfers and eventually allow residents to send photos and video to dispatchers.

Mercer County Sheriff Doug Timmerman said county commissioners approved approximately $293,000 to purchase equipment needed to move the county toward Next Generation 911, commonly known as NG911.

Next Generation 911 is a digital, internet protocol-based system designed to replace the analog infrastructure traditionally used by emergency call centers. The technology can support voice calls, text messages and multimedia while creating a faster and more resilient connection between the public and emergency dispatchers.

Timmerman said Mercer County is required to comply with Ohio’s transition to NG911 by 2030. Ohio law requires counties to provide Next Generation 911 service no later than five years after the statewide core system becomes operationally available to every county. The statewide network is designed to use caller location and other routing information to direct emergency traffic to the appropriate public safety answering point.

Timmerman estimated that about one-third of Ohio’s 911 centers are already operating with the newer system, while another third are installing equipment. Mercer County is now entering the beginning stages of its transition.

Following the commissioners’ approval, the county submitted a purchase order for the necessary equipment. Timmerman said the equipment is expected to arrive in approximately 11 months.

One of the most immediate improvements will be more accurate location information for people calling 911, particularly from mobile phones. The system will also make it easier to transfer calls rapidly when an emergency occurs in another jurisdiction.

The new platform is also being built to support additional forms of communication. Timmerman said a person at a crash, structure fire or other emergency could eventually send photographs or live video to the dispatch center, giving emergency personnel a better understanding of conditions before responders arrive.

Federal 911 officials say the technology can also help call centers manage overloaded networks, natural disasters and emergency calls that must be rerouted based on a caller’s location.

The approximately $293,000 purchase will be paid through Mercer County’s wireless 911 funding. The money is generated through 911 fees collected on wireless service and distributed to counties to help operate and improve emergency communication systems.

Ohio currently imposes a 60-cent monthly Next Generation 911 access fee on each qualifying wireless telephone number and certain other communication services. State law allows county distributions to be used for equipment and costs associated with the transition to Next Generation 911.

Timmerman said the upgrade represents another major step beyond the era when callers had to rely on landline telephones, nearby homes or pay phones to report emergencies. Once installed and connected to the statewide system, the new equipment is expected to give Mercer County dispatchers faster and more detailed information when every second matters.