Hardin County Dials AT&T for Next Gen 9-1-1 Services

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February 29, 2012
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Hardin County Dials AT&T for Next Gen 9-1-1 Services

IP-based network allows county to route and respond to emergency calls more reliably

HARDIN CO., Tenn., Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Emergency call dispatchers in Hardin County, Tenn. will soon have faster and more reliable access to vital caller information thanks to an agreement with AT&T*.

AT&T is working with Hardin County's emergency communications department to deploy a microDATA next generation 9-1-1-call-handling solution. This complements a larger contract AT&T has with the State of Tennessee to roll out an Emergency Services Internet protocol-based network (ESInet) for routing and delivering 9-1-1 calls.

Hardin County is the first county in Tennessee to implement the microDATA solution, technology necessary to take advantage of the statewide IP network. Using technology and services from AT&T and microDATA, the county and its residents benefit from a variety of new capabilities that provide life-saving services in a reliable and timely manner including:

    --  New equipment that permits call center operators to dispatch first
        responders faster by giving them the ability to:
        --  Gain instant access to caller information
        --  Quickly identify location information
        --  View 9-1-1 caller information on a graphical map display
        --  Generate reports on call handling
    --  A newly constructed 5,000-square-foot underground call center furnished
        with state-of-the-art equipment, built to withstand tornadoes,
        earthquakes and other seismic activity.
    --  As part of the agreement, AT&T offers the county assistance on
        installation, project management, training on the new system, hardware
        and software support and maintenance. AT&T also monitors the network
        24/7.

The Future of 911:
As ESInet deployments become more widespread across the U.S., the 9-1-1 capabilities will grow as well. By deploying IP-based networks, emergency response systems will evolve from traditional voice communications to accept and send data files, such as text messages and images - capabilities that do not exist for 9-1-1 today. Public safety access points (PSAPs), or call centers, will be able to share information among each other, as well as state and federal agencies such as FEMA or the Department of Homeland Security, for a coordinated response in the event of a large-scale disaster.

To ensure the system is ready for the future, the State of Tennessee employed AT&T's help to design the network to meet I3 standards, which are defined by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). The I3 standards dictate the basis for next generation 9-1-1 and the AT&T microDATA next generation call handling solution enables Hardin County to meet those standards, with the flexibility to adapt to future standards as well.

Quote:
"Getting accurate information to our first responders fast is critical in an emergency," said David Alexander, Director, Hardin County 9-1-1 Services.  "That's why we chose AT&T, so that we'd be prepared for the next generation of 9-1-1 capabilities and provide our residents with cutting-edge emergency communications technology when they need it most."

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(®) and AT&T ?DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.  This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.

SOURCE  AT&T Inc.

AT&T Inc.

CONTACT: Josh Hixson of AT&T, +1-214-782-6053, josh.hixson@att.com

Web Site: http://www.att.com

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