ESCANABA, Mich. — The Upper Peninsula 911 Authority (UPA 911) and Peninsula Fiber
Network, LLC (PFN) announce that all emergency call centers in the Upper Peninsula now
support emergency text messages from wireless devices to 9—1—1. Beginning Monday September
21, 2015 individuals anywhere in the Upper Peninsula can send a text message to 9-1-1 in an
emergency.
“We are pleased that we are able to launch this service in all 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula
at once,” said Tim McKee, Director of Chippewa County Central Dispatch. “Calling and
speaking with a dispatcher is still the best way of reaching emergency services but that is not
always an option.” Texting to 9-1-1 is a critical service that will benefit anyone who is not able
to speak due to an emergency such as a home invasion or an abusive partner. It is also intended
to help individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability. It can also be a
benefit in areas where wireless service is limited.
“Please remember to Call when you can; Text when you can’t”, said Gary Johnson, Manager of
Marquette County Central Dispatch. There are a few important tips to remember when texting to
9-1-1. Send brief messages without using abbreviations or slang. Be prepared to communicate
your exact location and the emergency help that is needed. Stay with your Wireless device and be
prepared to answer questions and follow instructions from the 9-1-1 dispatcher.
The Upper Peninsula 911 Authority has been working with Peninsula Fiber Network, LLC
(PFN) to bring Next Generation 911 services to the Upper Peninsula. “We have worked closely
with the UP 911 Authority to implement a system that is capable of supporting new technologies
such as texting to 911” said Dave McCartney, General Manager of Peninsula Fiber Network,
LLC (PFN). “The 911 network is designed to be ull redundant resilient and survivable as
defined by the newest FCC guidelines.”
The Upper Peninsula 911 Authority is the official Governmental Authority established by the
Emergency Management Directors and County Commissioners from all 15 Upper Peninsula
counties for the purpose of providing “best in class” 911 Emergency Response Services to the
residents of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Peninsula Fiber Network, LLC is a joint venture between Baraga Telephone Company in Baraga
Michigan and Hiawatha Communications Incorporated in Munising Michigan. The company
provides wholesale and retail transport services, voice and high speed broadband internet transit
throughout the Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan and Northern
Wisconsin.
