Information about calling 911 from cell phones

What is E911?

E911, or Enhanced 911, is the feature of 911 systems that identifies the physical address of the caller so that emergency responders can be dispatched without the caller needing to provide an address. Until recently, this feature was only available for landline phones. In California, 911 calls from cell phones were traditionally routed to the California Highway Patrol under the assumption that most cell phones were used along roadways. As cell phone use has become more prevalent, however, this is no longer true.

Wireless E911

The Federal Communication Commission began requiring the implementation of E911 by cell phone providers in 2000 with two phases of implementation. Phase 1 involves the routing of cell phone 911 calls based on the location of the cell tower receiving the call. Phase 2 involves the routing of the call based on the physical location of the actual cell phone through the use GPS or other technology. Eventually, all cell phone providers will be required to provide Phase 2 capabilities, however, some providers are still in Phase 1.

Calling 911 from a cell phone at UCSC

Many 911 calls made from cell phones on campus will go to campus dispatch, but some may still go to CHP depending on the cell phone provider. If you do reach CHP, please be sure to inform the operator that the emergency is at a UCSC campus location and the operator will contact campus dispatch. As an alternative, you can dial (831) 459-2345 to reach campus dispatch directly in an emergency.

More information

Please visit the Federal Communication Commission's 911 Services webpage for more information about how the 911 system and E911 feature work.

Other Links

• UCSC Public Safety Dispatch Center
• Santa Cruz Consolidated Emergency Communications Center