- About Us
- Advisory Committees
- Clearinghouse
- Emergency Information
- Services
- Public Safety Spectrum
- Releases
- Reporting Systems
- Summits
911 Call Centers
Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), also known as 911 Call Centers, are the public's first line of contact with public safety authorities in an emergency. Dialing 9-1-1 should quickly connect callers to a PSAP dispatcher trained to route the call to the right First Responders.
The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau is committed to working closely with states, emergency response agencies, and the nation's PSAPs to improve emergency communications and preparedness. The Bureau oversees the use of 9-1-1, the nation's universal emergency number, by wireline and wireless telephones, Voice over Internet Protocol, mobile satellite service (MSS), and other types of communications services and equipment. For example, the Bureau manages the Commission's wireless Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) rules, which require wireless carriers to provide the location of 9-1-1 calls and other enhanced information, in response to a valid PSAP request. The Bureau also manages the licensing of spectrum and maintains a nationwide PSAP Registry.
Bureau Contacts for PSAPs
| Type of Contact | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Assistance |
|
|
| Technical Advice |
|
|
| Outreach |
|
|
Priority Services
PSHSB will assist PSAPs with enrollment of critical communications circuits in the Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) program, which provides for priority provisioning and restoration of National Security and Emergency Preparedness services. The Bureau will also assist PSAPs with requests for Wireless Priority Service (WPS) and Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS). These programs focus on the operability of emergency communications in times of crises.
Other Resources
PSAP Planning Standards. These operational standards and planning models were developed by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) to assist Public Safety Answering Points and other communication centers.
PSAP Guidelines for Emergency Planning. The purpose of the Emergency Planning Guidelines is to provide a framework for emergency preparedness for organizations to use to build their emergency communications plans. The FCC encourages the use of these emergency communications best practices by PSAPs to improve their emergency communications systems and address unique regulatory or operational requirements which may exist within their organizations. Our guidelines were developed following a thorough review of existing emergency preparedness guidance put forth by several industry groups that developed best practices guidelines.