Company Picked to Operate National Emergency Address Database

The 911 National Emergency Address Database (NEAD), an independent entity established by CTIA, selected West's Safety Services to develop and operate the NEAD Platform, the association said Tuesday. “With a NEAD operator in place, the wireless industry remains on schedule to enhance indoor 911 location accuracy by harnessing commercial technologies,” CTIA said in a news release. Public safety groups hailed the development. The database “is one crucial element of a broad-based strategy aimed at making sure that every person who calls 911 can be located quickly and accurately,” said Brian Fontes, CEO of the National Emergency Number Association. "Getting the database online, with appropriate privacy and security controls, is a major milestone in our location accuracy agreement with the wireless carriers, and we look forward to the day when that milestone is reached.” The FCC approved rules last year aimed at improving indoor location accuracy for wireless calls to 911 (see 1501290066).