FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Orleans Parish Communication District in
Collaboration with City of New Orleans and AT&T:
Modernizing to NextGen 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Infrastructure
NEW ORLEANS, LA (September 3, 2020) – The Orleans Parish Communication District (OPCD), in collaboration with the City of New Orleans and AT&T, are proud to announce the upcoming modernization of 9-1-1 services infrastructure within Orleans Parish to NextGen 9-1-1 capabilities.
The announcement to update emergency communications to NextGen 9-1-1 capabilities through AT&T ESInet™ stands as another in a long line of city-wide updates and improvements as the City of New Orleans continues to focus on its initiative to build and update infrastructure throughout Orleans Parish.
Orleans Parish will be the first parish in Louisiana to make the move to AT&T ESInet™ and NextGen 9-1-1 technology.
“The City of New Orleans is prioritizing the improvement and development of our infrastructure across all sectors, including technology and telecommunications,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. ” This modernization of our emergency communications system through ESInet with AT&T will better connect our ‘Heroes Under the Headset’ with all public safety agencies in an emergency or crisis. We have recently seen just how critical the need is in providing aid to the evacuees from Hurricane Laura, and to the work done every day to provide our residents and visitors with the help they need when they need it the most.”
AT&T ESInet™ is an IP-based call routing service that helps public safety answering points (PSAPs) keep up with the current and future needs of its callers. Using the AT&T ESInet™ modern network architecture and the National Emergency Number Association’s i3 standards, Orleans Parish Communication District will be able to provide a more reliable and improved 911 experience.
“This step to modernize emergency communications infrastructure to NextGen 9-1-1 technology has been a long time coming,” stated OPCD Executive Director, Tyrell Morris. “As we commemorate the 15-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, I can’t help but think about how the 9-1-1 infrastructure failed the residents of this city during that terrible time. With the AT&T ESInet™ system in place, we can ensure that a system failure of that magnitude never happens again, no matter the size of the emergency event. Thank you to Mayor Cantrell, the City of New Orleans, and our partners at AT&T for coordinating with us and leading the way for us to continue developing ways of meeting our mission to get the right people to the right place at the right time, better than anybody else in the world.”
Improved emergency communications services and solutions provided through AT&T ESInet™ include:
- More targeted response to help save time and improve outcomes. AT&T ESInet™ lets PSAPs manage how calls and text messages are routed to help ensure those communications reach the desired 9-1-1 agency. With location-based geospatial routing, PSAPs can quickly adjust their service boundaries to accommodate unforeseen situations.
- More efficient handling of unexpected call volumes. When calls spike, AT&T ESInet™ can allow parishes to better route traffic to alternate sites in the event of a primary PSAP outage.
- Greater ability to maintain service during a natural or man-made disaster. PSAPs have access to call processing locations distributed throughout the country for backup support as needed. This allows them to work more closely with other AT&T ESInet™ customers throughout the state.
“Advances in technology have made 9-1-1 service more widespread, precise and efficient—helping telecommunicators provide rapid response and timely assistance,” said Sonia Perez, President, AT&T Louisiana. “We are proud to help make NextGen9-1-1 service a reality for millions of callers in New Orleans. This new service truly modernizes the city’s approach to public safety and gives all citizens and visitors fast, reliable emergency communications they can rely on.”
Updates to the emergency communications infrastructure to AT&T ESInet™ are expected to be in place in August of 2021.
About AT&T
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About the Orleans Parish Communication District (www.OPCDLA.gov)
Formed in 1982, the Orleans Parish Communication District is the PSAP for all emergency communications via 9-1-1, and non-emergency communications via 3-1-1, within Orleans Parish. The agency employs over 150 individuals and provides emergency medical dispatch, emergency fire dispatch, and emergency police dispatch for the millions of annual visitors and residents of the City of New Orleans. OPCD is a member of the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).
The Mission of OPCD is to get the Right People to the Right Place at the Right Time, Better than Anybody Else in the World.
OPCD Contact:
Marcus W. Creel, MS
OPCD Public Engagement Manager
601.319.2024
[email protected]
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