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When I was in the U. S. Army -- I was asked to assist in writting a Paper on the possibility of using a three digit telephone number to request Emergency Services. I had no problem when President Nixon signed the federal Executive Order mandating that "911" would be used nationwide. It was an example of "strange bedfellows" since the New York telephone company was the sponsor of the request for such a service -- only to save millions of dollars. President Nixon on one hand -- gave every telephone company in the U.S. -- a way to get rid of over 60 % of it's telephone operators and yet still tryed to force the break-up of Ma Bell. Military Bases around the country had long used 117 or 119 or other such telephone numbers, but most bases "owned" their own telephone systems. Years have passed and now everyone is on the band wagon. 311 has now been established as a non-emergency back-up number to 911. So everyone will have both 911 and 311. And 411 for information and 611 for telephone repair service. Last week the Los Angeles County MTA - Metro Transit Authority and the Auto Club of Southern California started 699 to request emergency roadside assistance, because both Los Angeles and Orange Counties are taking half of the Freeway Callboxes out of service. Of course -- those callboxes were paid for by special taxes -- but seem to be supported by the almost 90% use of cellphones to request such emergency roadside service instead of the use of those callboxes. And then today the County of Los Angeles began using 211. That's correct - 211 so that anyone can be connected to non-emergency social service help. "Hello - 211 ? I need Help !! What number do I use ?? Nine-eleven ?? Where is the eleven on my telephone ?? Can I just use smoke signals if I'm on fire ??? I called 7-1-1 but all I got was the location of the nearest Card Casino and Mega Lotto sales. I called 8-1-1 and they told me I lived next to a pervert. And the park across the street was a toxic dump. What's next ??? Oh, 5-1-1 if I'm hooked on using to many telephone numbers. Could I just use Zero ???"

After all that (MTM's post) The only thing I could come up with was......Why in the hell would they need someone to write a paper about it!?!?!?!

I'm so glad I got out of the Army :lol:

:D :D :D Because no one could figue out the best 3 digit number to use -- and how it would all work. Where would "911" go ?? My point is "911" is the sole and only "Nation-wide Emergency" telephone number as per the 1970 Federal Order. But now everyone wants to use a "Special" telephone number for "special" service requests -- making 911 LESS meaningfull and LESS important or remebered by the public. Do you call 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711, 811, # 399, 117, 118, 119, or WHAT number ??? For some -- using the old 7 digit number works better than using 911. The new FCC order mandates that all cellphone 911 calls will no longer go to the State Police or Highway Patrol -- but will be sent to the local County or City PSAP. But since most 911 centers (PSAP's) do NOT have enough staff -- your 911 call could take 7 minutes or more to answer. How many people will forget 911 and use 211 -- or 411 -- or 811 when they need to call 911. There is no need to confuse the public. Get rid of all the other 3 digit numbers. I know what each 3 digit number is used for. Do you ??? Will the general public know ??? How many lives will be lost -- by calls to the WRONG number ???

try calling Portland 911, it's menu driven now and OSP will put you on hold for up to 5 mins