Public Safety Answering Points

A Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) is a facility with enhanced 9-1-1 capability, operated on a 24-hour basis, assigned the responsibility of receiving 9-1-1 calls and, as appropriate, directly dispatching emergency services or, through transfer routing or relay routing, passing 9-1-1 calls to public or private safety agencies.

Currently, there are 27 PSAPs in Maine. Recent legislation has directed the Bureau to reduce to the extent possible the number of PSAPs to between 16 and 24. By February 2008, there will be 26 PSAPs.

The Bureau plays an integral part in the PSAP's total operation. Each PSAP has between two and 12 Answering Position Units (APUs) that receive wireline and wireless Enhanced 9-1-1 emergency calls. The APU displays the name, address and callback number of a wireline caller. In the case of a wireless caller, the system displays the address of the wireless tower that delivered the call, the caller's cell phone number, and possibly, the approximate location of the caller. The equipment also handles calls from VoIP callers. The Bureau is in the process of deploying mapping software at each PSAP capable of plotting the location of the 9-1-1 caller. This will be complete by the end of February 2008.

Emerging new technologies such ACN (Automatic Crash Notification) and telematics such as OnStar present new challenges regarding the routing and location of emergency callers. Solutions for these new technologies are being explored on a national level and will be implemented in Maine as soon as they are deemed reliable and commercially available.

BUREAU INFORMATION

Public Safety Answering Points