Carpino Advocates for Streamlined 9-1-1 Dialing System

Hartford – State Representative Christie Carpino (Cromwell/Portland) testified in support of her proposal House Bill 5276: An Act Requiring Instructions For Dialing 9-1-1 On Or Adjacent To Certain Multiline Telephones before the legislature’s Public Safety & Security Committee Tuesday at the Legislative Office Building.

“Direct access to 9-1-1 in an emergency is crucial,” Stated Rep. Carpino, “Every minute matters. Multiline Telephone Systems, MLTS, are not always configured to allow direct access to 9-1-1. Many also do not provide an onsite notification or the exact location of where the emergency is located.”  Carpino shared an experience about needing to use a MLTS in her district for an injured child.
Carpino’s proposal will require clear instructions on telephones informing users how to dial 9-1-1 in the event a prefix is required. She added, “In an emergency it must be perfectly clear how to reach first responders for anyone that picks up the phone to ask for help.”

Carpino further explained in her testimony that telecommunications experts have indicated most systems have the capacity to be reconfigured in their current state, without additional hardware, to allow unrestricted calls to 9-1-1.

The Connecticut State Firefighters Association has stated their support for H.B. 5276. In addition, Portland Fire Chief, Robert Shea, stated, “Based on issues in Portland related to phone systems requiring an outside line or another number to dial 9-1-1, I fully support Christie’s proposal.”