South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG)

When Seconds Count...

The South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG) planned and developed the regional 911 emergency communications system which is fully operational. SPAG administers the system and provides training and planning services to keep it current and effective. The emergency communications system has twelve 911 public safety answering points (PSAPs) that answer emergency calls for the following counties: Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Kent, King, Lamb, Lynn, Motley, Stonewall, Terry, and Yoakum. The Lubbock Emergency Communication District (LECD) administers 911 emergency services for the City of Lubbock, Lubbock County, the cities of Plainview and Abernathy.

SPAG planning services include all phases of emergency communications--planning and implementation, public education and training, rural addressing, addressing maintenance and data base development and management, and addressing maintenance and cellular access.

911 History

The passage of House Bill 1983 by the 76th Legislature changed the Advisory Commission on State Emergency Communications (ACSEC) to the Texas Commission on State Emergency Communications (TCSEC).

The TCSEC oversees the 911 program with each council of governments (Cogs) administering their perspective jurisdictions. Emergency Communications have been in place since 1988 and has successfully completed several regional planning periods. The current strategic planning process for the Cogs are every two years (each biennial).

Funding resources for administering the emergency communications system is provided from the 911 service fee, 911 equalization surcharge fee, addressing pool fund allocation, and county matching funds. Due to the TCSEC being a state agency, any 911 funding not utilized within strategic plans by the end of each biennial can be shifted in to the general appropriations.

If additional information is needed on 911 emergency communications within the SPAG region, please call (806) 762-8721.

The South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG) monitors and evaluates the emergency communications system. Emergency communications needs or enhancements that will make the system more effective are identified on a county by county basis. These enhancements are developed into the strategic planning process and presented to an appointed regional advisory committee for recommendation for submission to the state for approval. Once approved at the state level, enhancements to the system are implemented.

PUBLIC EDUCATION & TRAINING

SPAG develops training curriculum and provides 911 public awareness programs to all target groups within the service area. Programs are provided to school districts, civic groups, churches, day cares, senior citizens, speech/hearing impaired, etc.

SPAG develops and solicits consultant telecommunications training for communications personnel at the 911 public safety answering points (PSAPs). The training sessions include 911 operations and procedures, and basic and advanced telecommunications--i.e.: telephone etiquette, stress management, law enforcement dispatch, emergency medical dispatch, etc.

RURAL ADDRESSING, DATA-BASE DEVELOPMENT/ MANAGEMENT, & ADDRESSING MAINTENANCE

SPAG provides technical assistance to counties implementing rural addressing as part of 911 enhancements to make the system more efficient. Counties have named or numbered county roads in rural and unincorporated areas to provide physical addresses to structures as within a city limits. The project includes creation of county addressing committee, development of an addressing scheme, development of a county base map, development of a county master street address guide (MSAG), creation of a county data base, verification of the county data base, implementation of county road signs, notification to the telephone companies, notification to the postal service for route conversions, and notification to the citizens of their new address. Once the project is complete, SPAG continues to provide technical assistance to counties in maintaining the address changes throughout the region, and begin to focus on mapped automatic location identification which is a digital map with the location of the phone from which 911 is dialed. SPAG plans to provide technical assistance to the wireless industry in efforts to comply with the Federal Communications Commission rule adopted in June 1996 to implement enhanced 911 for wireless services.

The Texas Commssion on State Emergency Communications (TCSEC) recently awarded a contract to SCC Communications Corporation to implement a statewide database, and to begin wireless - Phase I implementation for all 911 systems under council of governments' jurisdictions throughout Texas. Implementation shall be complete by August 2000.

A History of 911

Lubbock Emergency Communications District

911 Fire Police Medical Main Station

The 911 Responder

The Emergency Medical Services Website

Emergency-related Web sites

How to Use 911

National Emergency Number Association

If additional information is needed on 911 emergency communications within the SPAG region, please call (806) 762-8721.