Forty years ago this month, an independent telephone company and a small town in Alabama made history. On February 16, 1968 Alabama Speaker of the House, Rankin Fite, picked up a phone in Haleyville, Alabama and dialed 9-1-1. Congressman Tom Bevill answered that call in the Haleyville Police Department. The people involved in that first 9-1-1 call could not have even imagined today’s technology where cell phones, palm pilots and camera phones are impacting today’s public safety world.
Groups such as the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) and its chapters throughout the nation are meeting today’s challenges as well as those on the horizon. AL-NENA, the Alabama Chapter, has recognized the state’s place in 9-1-1 history and has worked hard to assure it continues to be a leader in 9-1-1 development and implementation just as the Alabama Telephone Company did 40 years ago.
The can-do attitude of the Alabama Telephone Company has served AL-NENA through the years and has resulted in the state chapter being recognized as one of the strongest chapters in the nation.
As we kick off a year of celebration noting that first call, AL-NENA wishes to recognize the town of Haleyville, “Home of 9-1-1” and the Alabama Telephone Company’s vision and attitude.
When the president of the small independent telephone company read an article in the Wall Street Journal in 1968 about AT&T’s plan to implement a 9-1-1 system, he was offended that AT&T and the Federal Communications Commission had overlooked the views of the independent companies. With that in mind, he set out to beat AT&T to the punch and be the first to implement 9-1-1.
AL-NENA President Johnny Hart said, “We are using this occasion to not only recognize Haleyville for it’s place in history, but the AL-NENA Executive Board has also planned on recognizing our leaders in Washington and Montgomery for their efforts to keep 9-1-1 growing to keep up with technology.” Hart said Alabama’s legislators in Washington will be presented commemorative plaques next month when the Executive Board makes its annual pilgrimage to Washington, DC as part of NENA’s “9-1-1 Goes to Washington” Conference.
He said officials in Montgomery would also be recognized in April during a joint meeting of AL-NENA and AAND, Alabama Association of 9-1-1 Districts, an affiliated organization promoting 9-1-1 efforts throughout the state.
Hart said the Executive Board and AL-NENA members will also be manning a booth at the annual NENA conference in June recognizing and promoting Alabama’s place in
9-1-1 history through the years. “9-1-1 personnel throughout the state are extremely dedicated and have refused to rest on their laurels basking in the fact we were first,” noted Hart. He pointed out AL-NENA has consistently been among the top chapters in the nation in membership as well as being recognized for its annual conference in October.
Another indicator of Alabama’s leadership in the 9-1-1 community was the recognition of the Elmore County 9-1-1 operation as recipient of the 2006 E9-1-1 Institute Outstanding 9-1-1 Program Award. In presenting the award to Elmore County, the institute stated, ‘The Elmore County E9-1-1 office has successfully demonstrated how the transition to IP and VoIP within a PSAP can improve public safety, slash costs, and increase control of 9-1-1 operations.”
Hart said AL-NENA believes the dedication and leadership present in 9-1-1 personnel throughout the state, from call-takers to directors, will continue the proud tradition of
9-1-1 and emergency services for the people of Alabama.