4G Americas: SMS not suited for 911 texts

4G Americas released a white paper that points out the limitations of using SMS as a way to contact first responders during an emergency. The trade group said some communities and groups, including people with disabilities, are interested in using text messages as a way to call 911.
However, text messaging was designed as a way to use wireless networks when they weren’t tied up by voice communications, and as such, they are only best-effort communications.
“While we understand the desire to use SMS to contact 911, SMS has significant limitations and shortcomings that do not make SMS suitable for emergency communications, especially under life-threatening conditions,” stated Chris Pearson, president of 4G Americas. “Today, voice 911 communication is the best and most reliable method of reporting an emergency and summoning help quickly. The industry is working on developing a reliable, non-voice solution to contact emergency services that is not based on SMS.”
Despite the popularity of SMS, 4G Americas said that among the major limitations of the technology, public safety answering points (PSAPs) would not know where the text was initiated and as such wouldn’t know the location of the sender, and the fact that there is no way to prioritize SMS messages, so a 911 text would not be given priority over any other text.
The Federal Communications Commission is beginning to address next-generation wireless 911 accuracy requirements. The FCC approved a timeline and benchmarks to make sure that wireless operators give more accurate information at the county or PSAP (public safety administration point) level. The report applies to both handset- and network-based E-911 environments. Further, the FCC started a Notice of Inquiry on how Voice over Internet Protocol services can also provide accurate location information to public-safety personnel. The FCC is also asking how to address E-911 calls placed from callers who are indoors. Genachowski said that landline-based 911 calls are accurate 98% of the time, compared to wireless calls, which are accurate only about 50% of the time.