COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio has officially begun the rollout of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) technology, with Washington and Monroe counties becoming the first to fully implement the upgraded system. The move comes as part of Governor Mike DeWine’s 2024-2025 Executive Budget, which prioritizes improving emergency response times and enhancing public safety across the state.
“Every second counts when we are talking about saving lives,” said Governor DeWine. “Next Generation 9-1-1 makes emergency services more efficient, especially in the rural areas of Ohio where it is critical to have strong and reliable communication infrastructure.”
NG9-1-1 introduces advanced communication tools to emergency response systems. In addition to traditional voice calls, citizens will now be able to send text messages, videos, and even other data to emergency responders when calling 9-1-1. This capability is especially useful in situations where speaking might be difficult, such as during a medical emergency or in situations involving domestic violence.
The upgraded system also improves the efficiency of emergency management by reducing call transfers between different 9-1-1 call centers. It uses precise location data from cell phones to direct calls more accurately, helping first responders reach individuals faster and more effectively. In early tests, such as in Washington County, nearly 37% of calls were routed directly to the appropriate 9-1-1 center without the need for a transfer, significantly cutting down response time.
Washington and Monroe counties are part of a pilot group that includes eight other counties: Athens, Carroll, Champaign, Columbiana, Hardin, Harrison, Morgan, and Union counties. This pilot phase will help fine-tune the system before its wider adoption across the state.
Kathleen C. Madden, Director of the Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), which is overseeing the project, praised the leadership of Governor DeWine’s administration. “The DeWine Administration’s leadership was critical to getting this migration moving, and we’ve been incredibly pleased to work with our partners to start bringing Next Generation 9-1-1 to life in Ohio,” Madden said.
The NG9-1-1 system is being implemented with a significant investment from Ohio’s state budget. The Fiscal Year 2024-2025 operating budget allocated $46 million to cover the infrastructure costs of the new system. The Ohio 9-1-1 Program office, part of the DAS, is responsible for coordinating the efforts of state, federal, regional, and local public safety officials to ensure a smooth transition.
Once fully operational, the NG9-1-1 system will improve emergency response across Ohio by offering more robust and reliable communication methods. The state expects the system to be completely up and running by the spring of 2025. After this date, counties that have not yet migrated to NG9-1-1 will have five years to make the transition.
The deployment of NG9-1-1 represents a crucial step in modernizing Ohio’s emergency response infrastructure, ensuring that the state’s public safety systems are better equipped to handle the needs of citizens in the digital age.