12/1/05

Dobson Cellular (Cellular One) is now providing Phase II service. This is the last carrier in both counties to complete Phase II service.
Receiving caller location data from a persons cellular phone is still contingent upon being in a location that is within the persons "Home" area.

5/4/04

Verizon Cellular has started providing Central Communications with Phase 2 wireless location data. If a VErizon customer makes a wireless 911 call within Doddridge or Ritchie County we will receive the latitude and longitude of the caller, plus the location of the tower. This can greatly help to locate any caller who is unsure of their location, or is unable to communicate with our telecommunicators after dialing 911.

Dobson Cellular (Cellular One) has informed us that they have no intention of providing Phase 2 services at this time.

1/12/04

As of August 9th, 2003, Central Communications had requested Phase 1 location information from all the wireless carriers that operate towers within both Ritchie and Doddridge Counties.

"Phase 1" location information sends the Pubic Safety Answering Point the location of the tower that the wireless call is coming from and in some cases gives a general direction from which the call is coming from. The next step is "Phase 2" which actually sends the latitude and longitude of the wireless caller, for precise location of the incident. The FCC mandates that the carriers institute either Phase 1 or Phase 2 (as requested) within six months after the date that the PSAP requests such service.

As of January 9th, 2004, at the end of the six month deadline mandated by the FCC, Verizon and Cellular One have instituted Phase 1 service at all their towers located within both counties. Nextel and NTelos as of this date have not enabled this service. NTelos has requested a 3 week extension for enabling Phase 1.