North Carolina has successfully demonstrated the ability to route live emergency calls across state lines, marking a significant operational milestone for Next Generation 911 (NG911) systems and underlining the growing importance of resilient digital infrastructure in public safety services. The exercise, carried out in partnership with Washington, D.C., validates the practical readiness of modern Emergency Services IP Networks (ESInet) and their potential to reshape how emergency communications are managed during crises.
The cross-border demonstration involved the secure routing of real 911 calls from Johnston County, North Carolina, to Washington, D.C., using North Carolina’s ESInet. Calls were answered by Johnston County telecommunicators operating from Tactical Homeland Operations Response (THOR), a mobile communications command centre based in the US capital. Critical information was then relayed back to North Carolina for dispatch, effectively separating call handling from physical geography.
The proof of concept was led by the N.C. 911 Board in collaboration with the Washington D.C. Office of Unified Communications, Johnston County 911, and telecommunications provider AT&T. According to officials, the initiative represents a first-of-its-kind demonstration of live, policy-based 911 call routing across state boundaries, delivered over a secure IP-based network.
From an operational perspective, the exercise confirmed that emergency call handling can continue uninterrupted even when local facilities are compromised. By validating interoperability between jurisdictions, the demonstration addressed a longstanding challenge in emergency communications: maintaining continuity of operations during natural disasters, cyber incidents, or large-scale public events that overwhelm or disable local systems.
“This proof of concept not only confirms the advancements Next Generation 911 has brought to North Carolina but also validates the system’s reliability and potential for nationwide interoperability,” said Pokey Harris, Executive Director of the N.C. 911 Board. “We have created a contingency-planning approach for PSAPs in North Carolina. Other states can adopt these capabilities, but federal funding is essential for implementing Next Generation 911 across the country. We appreciate the efforts of the Washington D.C. Office of Unified Communications, Johnston County Emergency Communications, and our vendor partners in turning this proof of concept into reality.”
Beyond voice calls, the exercise also tested alternative data delivery methods designed to strengthen resilience. These included integration with internal computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems, the Collaborator platform by RapidSOS, and enhanced push-to-talk radio communications supported by multiple commercial wireless networks. The use of AT&T FirstNet, alongside T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless data connections, provided redundant pathways to ensure that communications could be sustained if any single network were disrupted.
Such redundancy is increasingly viewed as essential infrastructure rather than a technical upgrade. As emergency services become more dependent on data-rich communications—such as location information, multimedia content, and real-time collaboration tools—the failure of legacy systems can have serious operational and reputational consequences for public agencies.
North Carolina’s ESInet has already been tested under real-world conditions. During Hurricane Helene, emergency calls from affected communities were successfully rerouted to partner Public Safety Answering Points across the state, allowing residents to reach emergency services despite local outages. Officials say that extending these capabilities beyond state borders demonstrates how NG911 can support mutual aid arrangements at a national level.
“This exercise highlights how innovation and technology can save lives, demonstrating that geography is no longer a barrier,” said Teena Piccione, North Carolina 911 Board Chair and Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Information Technology. “North Carolina’s ESInet enables us to transmit calls, data, and expertise to where they are needed most, ensuring community protection even in tough situations. Public safety relies on preparedness, partnerships, and advanced technology, and this success shows what can be achieved when states, local agencies, and industry work together with a common goal.”
From a business and policy standpoint, the demonstration strengthens the argument for sustained federal and state investment in NG911 infrastructure. While the technology is already delivering measurable resilience benefits, officials caution that nationwide adoption will depend on consistent funding and coordinated standards across jurisdictions.
As governments on both sides of the Atlantic grapple with the resilience of critical digital infrastructure, North Carolina’s cross-state 911 exercise offers a practical case study in how public-sector collaboration and private-sector technology can combine to deliver operational continuity at scale.
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