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| 1957 |
The National Association of Fire Chiefs recommends using a single number for reporting fires.
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| 1967 |
The President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice recommends the establishment of a nation-wide single number for the purpose of reporting emergencies. An early proposal called for a different phone number for each type of emergency, but that idea was struck down because it contradicted the purpose of one single, universal number. Several politicians and government agencies expressed interest and the Federal Communications Commission is consulted to help resolve the issue.
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| Nov 1967 |
AT&T and the FCC meet to discuss the rapid introduction of a nation-wide emergency number.
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| Early 1968 |
AT&T announces 911 as the nation-wide emergency number. The number, 911 is chosen because it is easily remembered by the public, it is quickly dialed and because no area codes or office codes begin with or use it. Congress agrees with AT&T and passes a bill which reserves the number for nation-wide use. It was determined that the cost of updating telephone company equipment is offset by a fee that would be included in the phone subscriber's base rate.
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| Feb 16, 1968 |
Alabama Telephone Company becomes the first telephone service to implement 911. Senator Rankin Fite dials the first 911 call from a phone in Haleyville, Alabama.
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| Feb 22, 1968 |
Nome, Alaska implements 911 service in the city.
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| March 1973 |
A national policy is established by the Executive Office of Telecommunications recognizing the importance and benefit of 911 to a growing population. The White House begins encouraging nation-wide adoption of the new emergency number and creates a Federal Information Center to assist in the planning and implementation of 911.
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| Early 1970's |
Alameda County, California becomes the test-bed for a new pilot program introduced by AT&T called "selective call routing." This is the beginning of "Enhanced-911"
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| Late 1976 |
It is determined that 17 percent of the United States is served by 911. | |
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