FCC Adopts Rules to Help Consumers During Text-to-9-1-1 Transition

The Federal Communications Commission has adopted rules requiring wireless carriers and certain other text messaging providers to send an automatic "bounce-back" text message to consumers who try to text 9-1-1 where text-to-9-1-1 service is not available. The FCC’s requirement will help protect the public by substantially reducing the risk of consumers sending a text message to 9-1-1 and mistakenly believing that 9-1-1 authorities have received it. Instead, consumers will receive an immediate response that text-to-9-1-1 is not supported and to contact emergency services by another means, such as by making a voice call or using telecommunications relay services (if deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled) to access 9-1-1.

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National Emergency Number Association