Comments on: 9-1-1 Should Never Give Me A Busy Signal http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/ Startup and Technology News Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:06:16 -0800 hourly 1 By: fed up with stupid http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-3/#comment-2894236 fed up with stupid Sat, 01 Aug 2009 09:48:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2894236 THE PROBLEM IS THE INSANE AMOUNT OF MORONS CALLING ABOUT CHEESEBURGERS BEING WRONG,BAD MANICURES, AND NOISE COMPLAINTS. AS AN OPERATOR, IT WOULD BE SO NICE TO SPEND THE TIME ON THE PHONE HELPING THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT. INSTEAD WE FLY THROUGH THE CALLS QUICKLY, COME ACROSS AS BEING SHORT, BECAUSE THE PHONES ARE RINGING OFF THE WALL AND CHANCES ARE ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE REALLY NEED HELP. PEOPLE LAUGH ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA WESTERN BURGER CALL, BUT THE SAD TRUTH IS THAT CALLS LIKE THAT HAPPEN FREQUENTLY. I CAN SAY MANY TIMES I HAVE TOLD A PERSON THAT THEY NEED TO CALL THE NON EMERGENCY LINE AND THAT 911 IS FOR LIFE AND DEATH EMERGENCIES ONLY, THERE NEXT COURSE OF ACTION IS NORMALLY CALLING MY SUPERVISOR WANTING AN APOLOGY BECAUSE I WAS RUDE BY REDIRECTING THEM. IF I WERE BEING RUDE I WOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING LIKE, "HEY I WAS GIVING SOMEONE CPR INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PHONE, AND PUT THEM ON HOLD TO ANSWER YOUR DUMB ASS ABOUT A BARKING DOG, AND NOW THAT PERSON PROBABLY DIED," BUT THE HEADLINE WOULD READ "DISPATCHER PUTS A CPR CALL ON HOLD AND CAUSES DEATH" THE PROBLEM IS THE INSANE AMOUNT OF MORONS CALLING ABOUT CHEESEBURGERS BEING WRONG,BAD MANICURES, AND NOISE COMPLAINTS. AS AN OPERATOR, IT WOULD BE SO NICE TO SPEND THE TIME ON THE PHONE HELPING THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT. INSTEAD WE FLY THROUGH THE CALLS QUICKLY, COME ACROSS AS BEING SHORT, BECAUSE THE PHONES ARE RINGING OFF THE WALL AND CHANCES ARE ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE REALLY NEED HELP. PEOPLE LAUGH ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA WESTERN BURGER CALL, BUT THE SAD TRUTH IS THAT CALLS LIKE THAT HAPPEN FREQUENTLY. I CAN SAY MANY TIMES I HAVE TOLD A PERSON THAT THEY NEED TO CALL THE NON EMERGENCY LINE AND THAT 911 IS FOR LIFE AND DEATH EMERGENCIES ONLY, THERE NEXT COURSE OF ACTION IS NORMALLY CALLING MY SUPERVISOR WANTING AN APOLOGY BECAUSE I WAS RUDE BY REDIRECTING THEM. IF I WERE BEING RUDE I WOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING LIKE, “HEY I WAS GIVING SOMEONE CPR INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PHONE, AND PUT THEM ON HOLD TO ANSWER YOUR DUMB ASS ABOUT A BARKING DOG, AND NOW THAT PERSON PROBABLY DIED,” BUT THE HEADLINE WOULD READ “DISPATCHER PUTS A CPR CALL ON HOLD AND CAUSES DEATH”

]]> By: 911jason http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-1/#comment-2831660 911jason Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:03:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2831660 1) Funny you mention the 911 problems from AT&T, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I am a 911 dispatcher for the 2nd largest municipality in the U.S. and by far the most difficult 911 calls to hear are those received from AT&T customers. I don't know what causes the problem, but the call constantly cuts in and out. It's gotten so bad, that most of us just tell the person that if they can hear us, we will call them right back. When we do so, the call is crystal clear... go figure. 2) I have also noticed that a lot of smaller cities don't pay their dispatchers nearly enough. That is not the problem here though, I made a tad over $90,000 last year. That is with a 40-hr work week, and no overtime except for the paid holidays. 1) Funny you mention the 911 problems from AT&T, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I am a 911 dispatcher for the 2nd largest municipality in the U.S. and by far the most difficult 911 calls to hear are those received from AT&T customers. I don’t know what causes the problem, but the call constantly cuts in and out. It’s gotten so bad, that most of us just tell the person that if they can hear us, we will call them right back. When we do so, the call is crystal clear… go figure.

2) I have also noticed that a lot of smaller cities don’t pay their dispatchers nearly enough. That is not the problem here though, I made a tad over $90,000 last year. That is with a 40-hr work week, and no overtime except for the paid holidays.

]]> By: brightbold http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-3/#comment-2828911 brightbold Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:38:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2828911 i've once called 911, only to be told i connected to the neighboring town's 911 system. the operator said she can connect me, in which the line rang, then took me to a voicemail for the local county jail. thankfully an off-duty cop was a few cars behind the collision and was able to radio for ems crews. i’ve once called 911, only to be told i connected to the neighboring town’s 911 system. the operator said she can connect me, in which the line rang, then took me to a voicemail for the local county jail.

thankfully an off-duty cop was a few cars behind the collision and was able to radio for ems crews.

]]> By: Mark Doliner http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-3/#comment-2828640 Mark Doliner Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:03:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2828640 I noticed that the FCC's website has a form that seems to allow you to complain about 911 service. Go to http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm and select "Wireless Telephone" then "Problems completing a 911 call from your wireless phone" The form they give you is kind of generic, though. Not sure how much good it would do. I noticed that the FCC’s website has a form that seems to allow you to complain about 911 service. Go to http://esupport.../complaints.htm and select “Wireless Telephone” then “Problems completing a 911 call from your wireless phone”

The form they give you is kind of generic, though. Not sure how much good it would do.

]]> By: A.O. http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-1/#comment-2828340 A.O. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:41:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2828340 Thank you for this! Thank you thank you thank you! Enough with the Google already. Enough with their countless number of apps. Enough with them trying to bully all IT companies, from the biggest ones (Microsoft, iPhone) to smallest ones, "supporting" open-source while they are not release almost any of their software. They were "just a search engine" and there were lots of web ad companies. How did we come here? Don't be evil, just kiss my .... Thank you for this! Thank you thank you thank you! Enough with the Google already. Enough with their countless number of apps. Enough with them trying to bully all IT companies, from the biggest ones (Microsoft, iPhone) to smallest ones, “supporting” open-source while they are not release almost any of their software. They were “just a search engine” and there were lots of web ad companies. How did we come here?
Don’t be evil, just kiss my ….

]]> By: Aeroconn http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-3/#comment-2828106 Aeroconn Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:42:04 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2828106 The 9-1-1 system infrastucture didn't fail. The community gets the system it can afford. You could put in 200 9-1-1 lines into your local 9-1-1 center, but if you have only 8 call taker/dispatchers, you can answer a maximum of 8 calls at any given time. Cell phone proliforation has been a blessing and a curse to 9-1-1. A blessing in that calls can be made quickly from the scene of an emergency not connected by a hardwire phoneline. A curse, in the sense that an accident in any area widely traveled by the public can gnereate 20 to 30 9-1-1 calls for the same incident. There are 2 short term and 1 long term answer. Short term: If you dial and it rings, stay on the line until it's answered. Be patient. It takes 3-4 rings on your cell phone before the 1st ring is heard at the 9-1-1 center. If you hang up, you lose your place in line. Second, if the line is busy, hang up and try again. Busy means the system is overloaded with calls. Long term, NG9-1-1 (Next Generation 9-1-1) promises to allow call routing automatically from one busy center to another that's not. The system is coming, pilot testing in underway, but it will cost in the millions of dollars to implement in each state or county. Finally, you may ask, if the 9-1-1 center needs more people to pick up the phone, why not just hire them? It takes 4.2 full time equivalents to man one phone position 24/7, based on a 40-hour work week. At $12 and hour pay, plus benefits, it costs $136,000 a year to add one call taker position. (Also, $12 is an estimate for a rural area. If you live in a large urban area, the pay could be double that) So, if you want it, stand up and tell your politicians you do and you're willing to pay more taxes next time the 9-1-1 center budget is debated. The 9-1-1 system infrastucture didn’t fail. The community gets the system it can afford. You could put in 200 9-1-1 lines into your local 9-1-1 center, but if you have only 8 call taker/dispatchers, you can answer a maximum of 8 calls at any given time.
Cell phone proliforation has been a blessing and a curse to 9-1-1. A blessing in that calls can be made quickly from the scene of an emergency not connected by a hardwire phoneline. A curse, in the sense that an accident in any area widely traveled by the public can gnereate 20 to 30 9-1-1 calls for the same incident.
There are 2 short term and 1 long term answer.
Short term: If you dial and it rings, stay on the line until it’s answered. Be patient. It takes 3-4 rings on your cell phone before the 1st ring is heard at the 9-1-1 center. If you hang up, you lose your place in line. Second, if the line is busy, hang up and try again. Busy means the system is overloaded with calls.
Long term, NG9-1-1 (Next Generation 9-1-1) promises to allow call routing automatically from one busy center to another that’s not. The system is coming, pilot testing in underway, but it will cost in the millions of dollars to implement in each state or county.
Finally, you may ask, if the 9-1-1 center needs more people to pick up the phone, why not just hire them? It takes 4.2 full time equivalents to man one phone position 24/7, based on a 40-hour work week. At $12 and hour pay, plus benefits, it costs $136,000 a year to add one call taker position. (Also, $12 is an estimate for a rural area. If you live in a large urban area, the pay could be double that) So, if you want it, stand up and tell your politicians you do and you’re willing to pay more taxes next time the 9-1-1 center budget is debated.

]]> By: sYgnal http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-3/#comment-2828015 sYgnal Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:30:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2828015 I'm not sure if anyone else has said this but... Maybe it's that too many people own a f*cking phone?! I get quite a bit of retarded questions on the phone at my job (and that's a wine shop) I can only imagine what those poor 911 operators have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. Lots of idiots tying up the PBX with stupid non-related calls. Too many morons with readily available technology....HA!! I’m not sure if anyone else has said this but… Maybe it’s that too many people own a f*cking phone?! I get quite a bit of retarded questions on the phone at my job (and that’s a wine shop) I can only imagine what those poor 911 operators have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. Lots of idiots tying up the PBX with stupid non-related calls.

Too many morons with readily available technology….HA!!

]]> By: ChrisK http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-3/#comment-2827894 ChrisK Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:00:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827894 The solution is with new, hosted call routing systems like www.incontact.com These solutions give organizations the ability to have virtually unlimited capacity to handle calls. If they are limited by personnel, they can simply route the calls to overflow centers to ensure that high value calls such as 911 calls to not go unanswered. It is likely that most 911 centers still use old fashioned carrier-provided solutions and they are limited by the capacity they paid for with T1s etc... The solution is with new, hosted call routing systems like http://www.incontact.com These solutions give organizations the ability to have virtually unlimited capacity to handle calls. If they are limited by personnel, they can simply route the calls to overflow centers to ensure that high value calls such as 911 calls to not go unanswered. It is likely that most 911 centers still use old fashioned carrier-provided solutions and they are limited by the capacity they paid for with T1s etc…

]]> By: TechCrunch reports significant problems with 9-1-1 systems http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-3/#comment-2827773 TechCrunch reports significant problems with 9-1-1 systems Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:22:11 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827773 [...] 9-1-1 Should Never Give Me A Busy Signal. By  Jason Kincaid at  TechCrunch. Last night I got word that my parents had witnessed a tragic accident while driving in Northern California. I won’t get into the details, but suffice to say one person was killed and others were left bleeding, in various states of unconsciousness. Thank God my parents were not hurt in the accident, but they witnessed it first hand, as well as the disturbing aftermath. [...] [...] 9-1-1 Should Never Give Me A Busy Signal. By  Jason Kincaid at  TechCrunch. Last night I got word that my parents had witnessed a tragic accident while driving in Northern California. I won’t get into the details, but suffice to say one person was killed and others were left bleeding, in various states of unconsciousness. Thank God my parents were not hurt in the accident, but they witnessed it first hand, as well as the disturbing aftermath. [...]

]]> By: jonathan http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-3/#comment-2827740 jonathan Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:47:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827740 You do all realize that cell phones don't even have REAL caller ID on them right??? If you don't have the name programmed in it can't even tell you who is calling. caller ID on house phones has been out since before cell phones were even popular so WHY didn't this feature make it? Same reason 911 doesn't work. They don't care about phone calls on a cell phone. It's another way to get you to spend money. Now that you can get on the internet with them corporate cell phone companies are finally happy. You can spend money with out using that stupid calling feature. You do all realize that cell phones don’t even have REAL caller ID on them right??? If you don’t have the name programmed in it can’t even tell you who is calling. caller ID on house phones has been out since before cell phones were even popular so WHY didn’t this feature make it? Same reason 911 doesn’t work. They don’t care about phone calls on a cell phone. It’s another way to get you to spend money. Now that you can get on the internet with them corporate cell phone companies are finally happy. You can spend money with out using that stupid calling feature.

]]> By: Floridian Paramedic http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-3/#comment-2827728 Floridian Paramedic Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:36:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827728 GPS in your phone will activate upon calling 911 and it will tell the operator exactly where you are so they can dispatch someone to you. The problem we have in Florida is that people give wrong information so often that we are not sure what to expect when we arrive on scene but thats part of the job. As for 911 being busy, we need to invest in more infrastructure and respond as quickly as we safely can. GPS in your phone will activate upon calling 911 and it will tell the operator exactly where you are so they can dispatch someone to you.

The problem we have in Florida is that people give wrong information so often that we are not sure what to expect when we arrive on scene but thats part of the job. As for 911 being busy, we need to invest in more infrastructure and respond as quickly as we safely can.

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="581470987">Chris Walker</fb:name> http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-2/#comment-2827661 Chris Walker Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:16:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827661 This is genuinely absurd. In the UK, calls to 999 (our equivalent of 911) are answered virtually immediately... We also have (as per the video) issues of people phoning up for ridiculous reasons - but these are generally pursued by the authorities and taken to court. If there is one thing that should work, must work, all the time, it is the emergency services number. This is genuinely absurd. In the UK, calls to 999 (our equivalent of 911) are answered virtually immediately…

We also have (as per the video) issues of people phoning up for ridiculous reasons – but these are generally pursued by the authorities and taken to court.

If there is one thing that should work, must work, all the time, it is the emergency services number.

]]> By: 911jason http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-1/#comment-2827629 911jason Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:32:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827629 You're totally right Bob, I have been a 911 dispatcher for more than 10 years at the 2nd largest municipal police department in the country. Due to our city's budget problems, all 911 dispatchers will now be forced to take off 1 unpaid work day every other week. Don't worry though, the trash truck drivers were exempted from this because they provide "essential service". So what is 911? P.S. Busy signals are pretty much a CHP problem and not a local police problem. We answer 90% of our 911 calls within 10 seconds. The main problem on 911 is that the VAST MAJORITY of 911 calls are NOT emergencies. 75% of my agency's calls each weekend are noise complaints (Loud parties/radios). Ridiculous. You’re totally right Bob, I have been a 911 dispatcher for more than 10 years at the 2nd largest municipal police department in the country. Due to our city’s budget problems, all 911 dispatchers will now be forced to take off 1 unpaid work day every other week. Don’t worry though, the trash truck drivers were exempted from this because they provide “essential service”. So what is 911?

P.S. Busy signals are pretty much a CHP problem and not a local police problem. We answer 90% of our 911 calls within 10 seconds. The main problem on 911 is that the VAST MAJORITY of 911 calls are NOT emergencies. 75% of my agency’s calls each weekend are noise complaints (Loud parties/radios). Ridiculous.

]]> By: Kyle http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-2/#comment-2827627 Kyle Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:30:04 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827627 I think it depends on your location. I have dialed 911 numerous times and gotten through immediately every time. I think it depends on your location. I have dialed 911 numerous times and gotten through immediately every time.

]]> By: shhexycorin http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-1/#comment-2827549 shhexycorin Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:58:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827549 "I’m living in the south of French" "first of all they didn’t speak English" Oh, the irony... “I’m living in the south of French”

“first of all they didn’t speak English”

Oh, the irony…

]]> By: shhexycorin http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-1/#comment-2827540 shhexycorin Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:52:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827540 Woo! It's definitely all the fault of illegal immigrants. They killed Michael Jackson too. Woo! It’s definitely all the fault of illegal immigrants.

They killed Michael Jackson too.

]]> By: Nathan J. Brauer http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-1/#comment-2827526 Nathan J. Brauer Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:16:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827526 Ryan: your premise is also false. You claim that Californians should have a higher % tax because they make more than people in Oregon. First of all, the highest tax bracket is NOT 10.3% by far. Maybe in one part of the income taxes, but not all parts. My father pays at least 30% to the state and even more to the feds. The fact is, 10% of 100k is not 10% of 200k. If you justify taking a larger percent of taxes because someone makes more money, it completely nullifies the point of taking a % in the first place. Ryan: your premise is also false. You claim that Californians should have a higher % tax because they make more than people in Oregon.

First of all, the highest tax bracket is NOT 10.3% by far. Maybe in one part of the income taxes, but not all parts. My father pays at least 30% to the state and even more to the feds.

The fact is, 10% of 100k is not 10% of 200k. If you justify taking a larger percent of taxes because someone makes more money, it completely nullifies the point of taking a % in the first place.

]]> By: Dressyourcellnow.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-1/#comment-2827500 Dressyourcellnow.com Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:38:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827500 Quite true. It takes more time to get to speak to someone at 911 than to actually for the first person to arrive at the spot. My neighbor met with the same situation a month ago. He was on his way to San Dimas when his car dashed against another speeding, drunk-driven car. After hitting my neighbor's car, the man hit against a nearby tree. When my neighbor tried calling 911, it was busy...for almost 25 minutes and when the first help arrived, the man in the car was half-dead. He did not recover. Wish 911 operates more effectively. Quite true. It takes more time to get to speak to someone at 911 than to actually for the first person to arrive at the spot. My neighbor met with the same situation a month ago. He was on his way to San Dimas when his car dashed against another speeding, drunk-driven car. After hitting my neighbor’s car, the man hit against a nearby tree. When my neighbor tried calling 911, it was busy…for almost 25 minutes and when the first help arrived, the man in the car was half-dead. He did not recover. Wish 911 operates more effectively.

]]> By: Jo Jordan http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-2/#comment-2827488 Jo Jordan Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:13:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827488 Isn't there an emergency number on all cell phones? As a matter of interest, did anyone call that? And did you ask the 911 management for a comment? It seems the first thing to do is to ask them - and the local civil defense unit - whatever it is called. Did anyone go to a nearby house and ask to use a landline or call a friend and ask them to alert 911 from another "direction"? I am sure pple on the spot were too shaken to think clearly but we should resolve the obvious before we design a space pen when a pencil would do. Then again the pencil was revolutionary in its time. Isn’t there an emergency number on all cell phones? As a matter of interest, did anyone call that?

And did you ask the 911 management for a comment? It seems the first thing to do is to ask them – and the local civil defense unit – whatever it is called.

Did anyone go to a nearby house and ask to use a landline or call a friend and ask them to alert 911 from another “direction”?

I am sure pple on the spot were too shaken to think clearly but we should resolve the obvious before we design a space pen when a pencil would do. Then again the pencil was revolutionary in its time.

]]> By: Sebastian G. http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-1/#comment-2827439 Sebastian G. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:16:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827439 This is incredible, I'm not from the USA but I think that this country is the most rich and advanced in the world(in a lot of things), but I can't believe that you don't have a decent emergency call system there! this is incredible!!! This is incredible, I’m not from the USA but I think that this country is the most rich and advanced in the world(in a lot of things), but I can’t believe that you don’t have a decent emergency call system there! this is incredible!!!

]]> By: The Good kind of Tired For Episode 345 | The CaffiNation Podcast http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-2/#comment-2827407 The Good kind of Tired For Episode 345 | The CaffiNation Podcast Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:43:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827407 [...] 911, why would the line be busy [...] [...] 911, why would the line be busy [...]

]]> By: David http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-2/#comment-2827380 David Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:23:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827380 In most countries of the world.. there is no equivalent of 911 service, you are basically on your own. In most countries of the world.. there is no equivalent of 911 service, you are basically on your own.

]]> By: Hanchor http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-1/#comment-2827379 Hanchor Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:21:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827379 Yeah, it's not that unrealistic. Shouldn't a 911 dispatcher in California either speak Spanish or have someone there to translate/take over? Yeah, it’s not that unrealistic.

Shouldn’t a 911 dispatcher in California either speak Spanish or have someone there to translate/take over?

]]> By: Nathan J. Brauer http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-1/#comment-2827269 Nathan J. Brauer Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:18:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827269 The governor of California is not republican. He masqueraded as a republican to get voted in office, months later he flipped. Almost all he does is on the liberal side. Seriously, if he was really republican, you would hear much more about how "bad" he is in the news. I haven't heard news on him in ages. The governor of California is not republican. He masqueraded as a republican to get voted in office, months later he flipped. Almost all he does is on the liberal side. Seriously, if he was really republican, you would hear much more about how “bad” he is in the news. I haven’t heard news on him in ages.

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="1042365571">Mark Freedman</fb:name> http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/27/9-1-1-should-never-give-me-a-busy-signal/comment-page-2/#comment-2827097 Mark Freedman Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:21:11 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77367#comment-2827097 The anecdote doesn't correlate to the SacBee article; a busy signal is certainly more serious than a long wait time but the SacBee article doesn't discuss any problem with busy signals - only with long wait times. In any event, to suggest that we have to build a 911 infrastructure that is 100% immune to busy signals is expensively naive. Isolated incidents are going to occur and an anecdote is not evidence of systemic national problem. The anecdote doesn’t correlate to the SacBee article; a busy signal is certainly more serious than a long wait time but the SacBee article doesn’t discuss any problem with busy signals – only with long wait times. In any event, to suggest that we have to build a 911 infrastructure that is 100% immune to busy signals is expensively naive. Isolated incidents are going to occur and an anecdote is not evidence of systemic national problem.

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