Americans sent 2,243,212 text messages to 911 in 2024, an 89.1% jump in a single year, yet that is still only about 1% of the 212.9 million voice calls 911 centers reported (FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report, February 2026). The network carrying those calls is mid-transition: 41 states and jurisdictions operated IP-based Emergency Services IP Networks in 2024, and NTIA estimates another $5.8 to $9.27 billion is needed to finish Next Generation 911 nationwide (NTIA NG911 Cost Study, April 2026). At the dispatch console, appetite for automation is high but deployment is thin: 86% of 911 professionals are comfortable with AI assisting in call taking, while only 4% of centers use automated screening (Pulse of 911 survey, 2025). For call volume, fees and the dispatcher workforce, see our companion 911 statistics roundup; this page focuses on how voice and text reach the dispatcher. We aggregated data from the FCC, NTIA, the National 911 Program, the Pulse of 911 survey (Carbyne and NENA), Frost and Sullivan, Mission Critical Partners, the European Commission, Ofcom, the CRTC, the Census Bureau, NIDCD, Axon’s SEC filings, and other primary sources listed in the methodology.
TL;DR
- Texts to 911 rose 89.1% to 2,243,212 in 2024, from 1,186,355 in 2023 (FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report).
- 3,967 PSAPs in 47 states, DC and Puerto Rico were text-capable at the end of 2024 (FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report).
- The FCC Text-to-911 Registry listed 3,562 PSAPs, about 62% of the US total, as of August 3, 2026 (FCC registry, via text911.info).
- 41 states and jurisdictions had ESInets operating in 2024 and NG911 spending reached $535.1 million (FCC).
- ESInet and NGCS deployments covered 76.1% of the US population at the end of 2025, projected 98.4% by 2030 (Frost and Sullivan, May 2026).
- Carriers must start delivering 911 in IP format within 6 months of a valid request from a 911 authority (FCC NG911 Report and Order, July 2024).
- Remaining NG911 transition cost: $5.8 to $9.27 billion over about seven years, down 30 to 40% from 2018 (NTIA, April 2026).
- 86% of 911 professionals are comfortable with AI assisting in call taking, but only 4% of centers use automated screening (Pulse of 911, 2025).
- 88% of 911 centers reported an outage in the past year, up from 75% (Pulse of 911, 2025).
- AI tools cut non-emergency call volume by up to 40% at Jeffcom 911 (NTIA, November 2025).
- 62% of all emergency calls in the EU now go to 112 (European Commission, 2024 112 report).
- Canada moved its legacy 9-1-1 cutoff from March 4, 2025 to March 31, 2027 (CRTC, via UBCM).
1. NG911 Rollout: How Much of the Network Is IP Today
The core infrastructure is further along than the public-facing features. 41 states and jurisdictions reported operating Emergency Services IP Networks in 2024, and 42 states plus DC, Guam and Puerto Rico reported a combined $535,126,846 in NG911 spending (FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report). Frost and Sullivan estimates that ESInet and Next Generation Core Services deployments covered 76.1% of the US population at the end of 2025, rising to 98.4% by 2030 (Frost and Sullivan, May 2026).
The gap is depth, not reach. Mission Critical Partners, drawing on hundreds of assessments since August 2022, finds that about one-third of states still lack a statewide ESInet or run fragmented NGCS deployments (MCP MAPS 2026, NG911 chapter). An IP network to the PSAP is necessary but not sufficient: until carriers deliver calls in native IP format with caller location attached, an ESInet often carries legacy calls converted at the edge.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| States and jurisdictions with ESInets operating (2024) | 41 | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| Jurisdictions reporting NG911 spending (2024) | 42 states + DC, Guam, Puerto Rico | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| NG911 spending (CY2024) | $535,126,846 | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| US population covered by ESInet/NGCS (end of 2025) | 76.1% | Frost and Sullivan, NG911 Forecast to 2030 |
| Projected population coverage (end of 2030) | 98.4% | Frost and Sullivan, NG911 Forecast to 2030 |
| States lacking statewide ESInet or with fragmented NGCS | About one-third | Mission Critical Partners, MAPS 2026 |
| States with a statewide NG911 program (2020) | 35 (33 in 2019) | National 911 Program, 2020 data |
| PSAPs reported on an ESInet (2020) | Nearly 2,200 across 47 states | National 911 Program, 2020 data |
Context note: the National 911 Program figures are the most recent available data from its National 911 Progress Report (2020 data). Newer state profile data exists in the 911 Profile Database but has not been published as a national roundup since.
2. The Rulebook: Deadlines Pushing Carriers Into IP
For two decades the bottleneck was a chicken-and-egg problem: PSAPs would not upgrade until carriers delivered IP calls, and carriers would not deliver until PSAPs were ready. The FCC broke it with a request-driven clock. Under the July 18, 2024 NG911 Report and Order, nationwide wireless carriers, non-rural wireline carriers, interconnected VoIP and covered text providers have 6 months after a valid 911 authority request to deliver 911 traffic in IP format (Phase 1), then 6 more months for full NG911 delivery (Phase 2) (FCC, Expedite the Transition to NG911). Rural carriers, non-nationwide wireless carriers and internet-based relay providers get one year per phase.
Location now drives routing, too. Nationwide carriers had to route wireless 911 voice calls by the caller’s location rather than the cell tower by November 13, 2024, and all wireless carriers had to do the same for non-nationwide voice and real-time text by May 13, 2026 (FCC, Location-Based Routing). In June 2026 the FCC added NG911 reliability and interoperability rules. Other countries are on similar clocks, with more slippage: Canada pushed its NG9-1-1 deadline by two years because local emergency organizations were not ready.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FCC NG911 transition order adopted | July 18, 2024 | FCC, FCC 24-78 |
| Phase 1 and Phase 2 window, nationwide wireless / non-rural wireline / VoIP / text | 6 months per phase after valid request | FCC, FCC 24-78 (Federal Register, Sept 2024) |
| Phase 1 and Phase 2 window, rural ILECs / non-nationwide wireless / internet TRS | 1 year per phase | FCC, FCC 24-78 |
| Location-based routing for wireless voice, nationwide carriers | November 13, 2024 | FCC, Location-Based Routing |
| Location-based routing for non-nationwide carriers and RTT to 911 | May 13, 2026 | FCC, Location-Based Routing |
| NG911 reliability and interoperability rules adopted | June 25, 2026 | FCC, June 2026 Open Meeting |
| Canada NG9-1-1 deadline (legacy E9-1-1 cutoff) | March 31, 2027 (was March 4, 2025) | CRTC, via UBCM |
| EU deadline for RTT or total conversation at PSAPs | June 28, 2025 | European Commission, 2024 112 report (European Accessibility Act) |
Context note: the CRTC extension is summarized by the Union of BC Municipalities; telecom providers had completed their upgrades, while provincial and local emergency organizations had not. Enhanced RTT in Canada is expected to follow the 2027 cutover.
3. Text-to-911: The Fastest-Growing Channel
Text has moved from pilot to habit in a handful of years. Texts to 911 jumped 89.1% in one year, from 1,186,355 in 2023 to 2,243,212 in 2024 (FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report), compared with nearly half a million texts in 39 states in 2020 (National 911 Program). That works out to roughly 6,100 texts a day nationwide (2,243,212 divided by 366 days in 2024), small against voice but meaningful for callers who cannot speak safely, such as people hiding from an intruder or in a domestic violence situation.
Coverage is the limiting factor. 3,967 PSAPs in 47 states, DC and Puerto Rico reported being text-capable at the end of 2024, and 31 jurisdictions report statewide coverage. The live FCC Text-to-911 Registry, which also lists PSAPs ready for real-time text, showed 3,562 PSAPs across 1,978 counties as of August 3, 2026, about 62% of the 5,706 PSAPs in the compilation published by text911.info. Registration is what starts the 6-month clock for carriers to deliver texts.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Texts to 911 (CY2024) | 2,243,212 | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| Texts to 911 (CY2023) | 1,186,355 | FCC, 16th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| One-year growth | +89.1% | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| Texts to 911 (2020) | Nearly 500,000 in 39 states (36 states in 2019) | National 911 Program, 2020 data |
| Text-capable PSAPs (end of 2024) | 3,967 across 47 states + DC + PR | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| Jurisdictions with statewide text-to-911 (end of 2024) | 31 | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| PSAPs in FCC Text-to-911 Registry (Aug 3, 2026) | 3,562 across 1,978 counties | FCC registry, via text911.info |
| Share of US PSAPs text-compatible (Aug 2026) | 62% of 5,706 | FCC registry, via text911.info |
Outlier note: the 3,967 (state-reported, end of 2024) and 3,562 (registry, August 2026) counts are not a decline. States count PSAPs differently, and the registry lists centers that formally certified readiness, so the two are separate measures.
4. Voice Is Still the Default, but Not Everyone Can Use It
Voice still carries almost all 911 traffic. The FCC tallied 212,910,794 voice 911 calls for 2024, of which 151,872,164 (71.3%) came from wireless phones (FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report), while NENA estimates about 240 million calls a year and says 80% or more are wireless in many areas (NENA, 911 Statistics). Voice-first design leaves out large groups: about 37.5 million US adults (15%) report some trouble hearing (NIDCD, Quick Statistics About Hearing), and 22% of residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home, of whom 62% also speak English very well (Census Bureau, June 2025). Speech technology now sits on both sides of that gap, as our speech synthesis accessibility statistics show.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Voice 911 calls reported (CY2024) | 212,910,794 | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| Wireless share of reported voice calls | 151,872,164 (71.3%) | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| Estimated US 911 calls per year | About 240 million | NENA, 911 Statistics |
| Wireless share in many areas | 80% or more | NENA, 911 Statistics |
| US adults reporting some trouble hearing | 37.5 million (15%) | NIDCD |
| US adults who could benefit from hearing aids | About 28.8 million | NIDCD |
| US residents 5+ speaking a language other than English at home | 22% | Census Bureau, ACS 2017-2021 |
| Languages and language groups tabulated | More than 500 | Census Bureau, ACS 2017-2021 |
Europe and the UK show what non-voice and assisted channels look like at scale. 62% of all emergency calls in the EU now go to the single number 112, and an estimated 2.7 million were placed by roaming users, 1.56% of all 112 calls (European Commission, 2024 112 report); by that ratio, total 112 traffic is on the order of 173 million calls (2.7 million divided by 0.0156). In the UK, the 999 BSL video relay service handled around 24,000 calls in 2024 and now answers 90% within 5 seconds, and Ofcom estimates it saves at least two lives a year (Ofcom ex-post evaluation, May 2025).
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Share of EU emergency calls made to 112 | 62% | European Commission, 2024 112 report |
| Roaming calls to 112 | 2.7 million (1.56% of 112 calls) | European Commission, 2024 112 report |
| Countries with AML-enabled PSAPs | 25 EU Member States + Iceland + Norway | European Commission, 2024 112 report |
| Member States providing handset location for roaming callers | 8 | European Commission, 2024 112 report |
| UK 999 BSL calls (2024) | Around 24,000 | Ofcom, May 2025 |
| 999 BSL calls answered within 5 seconds | 90% (61% in year one, 79% in year two) | Ofcom, May 2025 |
| 999 BSL calls (2024/25 service year) | About 18,000 (49 a day, -22% YoY) | Sorenson, 999 BSL Annual Report, July 2025 |
| Lives saved by 999 BSL | At least 2 a year (at least 7 since June 2022) | Ofcom, May 2025 |
Context note: the Ofcom (calendar 2024) and Sorenson annual report (service year 2024/25) counts cover different periods. Ofcom’s figures were read through Liam O’Dell’s coverage of the evaluation.
5. AI and Automation in the Dispatch Voice Loop
The 911 workforce is ready for help before vendors have delivered it at scale. In the 2025 Pulse of 911 survey of 1,379 public safety professionals, 86% were at least somewhat comfortable with AI assisting in call taking, but only 4% of centers used automated screening tools, and 79% handle emergency and non-emergency calls with the same staff (Carbyne, The Pulse of 911; detail via EMS1, June 2025). Respondents ranked language translation and automated triage as the top AI priorities. The reason is load: 88% reported an outage in the past year, up from 75%, and 68% of operators said they feel stress before a shift.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Survey respondents | 1,379 | Pulse of 911, 2025 (Carbyne and NENA) |
| At least somewhat comfortable with AI assisting in call taking | 86% | Pulse of 911, 2025 |
| Centers using automated screening tools | 4% | Pulse of 911, 2025, via EMS1 |
| Centers handling emergency and non-emergency calls with the same staff | 79% | Pulse of 911, 2025, via EMS1 |
| Centers reporting an outage in the past year | 88% (75% a year earlier) | Pulse of 911, 2025 |
| Centers hit by telephony denial-of-service or cyberattack | 9% | Pulse of 911, 2025, via EMS1 |
| Operators feeling pre-shift stress | 68% | Pulse of 911, 2025 |
| Centers reporting open positions | 74% (down from 82%) | Pulse of 911, 2025, via EMS1 |
The early results come from the non-emergency line, where AI answers routine calls so human telecommunicators stay on 911. NTIA’s field study found non-emergency call volume reduced by up to 40% at Jeffcom 911 and by 36% on average at Monterey County ECD, peaking near 39% in 2024 (NTIA, AI-Driven Transformation in 9-1-1 Operations). Transcription and translation are the other entry points: RapidSOS says its tools cover more than 190 languages for transcription and keyword detection (RapidSOS). The underlying speech recognition is the same technology tracked in our speech-to-text statistics.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Non-emergency call reduction, Jeffcom 911 | Up to 40% | NTIA, November 2025 |
| Non-emergency call reduction, Monterey County ECD | 36% average, near 39% peak (2024) | NTIA, November 2025 |
| NTIA research base | 1 AI symposium, 4 site visits, 14 interviews | NTIA, November 2025 |
| RapidSOS languages: transcription / automatic translation | 190+ / 130+ | RapidSOS, product page |
| Emergencies a year where RapidSOS supplies caller data | 170 million | RapidSOS, December 2024 |
| Connected devices / US population covered | 540 million / 99.7% | RapidSOS, December 2024 |
| 911Translate deployment | 100+ agencies in under 6 months, 90+ languages detected | DeskOfficer, October 2026 |
Context note: RapidSOS and DeskOfficer figures are company-reported and have not been independently audited. Vendor consolidation is accelerating, covered in section 6.
6. Funding, Market Size and Consolidation
NG911 is getting cheaper to finish, but not cheap. NTIA’s April 2026 cost study puts the remaining nationwide transition at $5.8 billion to $9.27 billion over about seven years, roughly 30 to 40% below its 2018 estimate of $9.5 to $12.7 billion, after more than $4.5 billion of investment since 2018 (NTIA, April 2026). The cost has shifted from up-front equipment to recurring cloud software subscriptions, which suits fee-funded budgets poorly: states collected $4.30 billion in 911 fees in 2024 against an estimated $6.76 billion cost of service, and $225.2 million (5.24%) was diverted to other uses (FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report).
Market sizing depends heavily on scope. Frost and Sullivan sizes the US NG911 market at $1.17 billion in 2025, growing 5.2% a year to $1.51 billion by 2030, while MarketsandMarkets puts the broader next-generation emergency response system market at $2.2 billion in 2022, reaching $3.3 billion by 2028 at a 7.0% CAGR (MarketsandMarkets).
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Remaining nationwide NG911 cost | $5.8-9.27 billion over about 7 years | NTIA NG911 Cost Study, April 2026 |
| 2018 nationwide estimate | $9.5-12.7 billion | NTIA, 2018 cost study (as cited in 2026 study) |
| NG911 investment since 2018 | More than $4.5 billion | NTIA, April 2026 |
| 911 fees collected (CY2024) | $4,300,366,407 | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| Estimated cost to provide 911 (CY2024) | $6,756,620,965 | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| 911 fees diverted (CY2024) | $225.2 million (5.24%) | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| US NG911 market | $1.17 billion (2025) to $1.51 billion (2030), 5.2% CAGR | Frost and Sullivan, May 2026 |
| Next-gen emergency response system market | $2.2 billion (2022) to $3.3 billion (2028), 7.0% CAGR | MarketsandMarkets, Feb 2024 |
Federal money has been proposed repeatedly and not delivered. In the 118th Congress, bills would have provided $15 billion (H.R. 1784), $10 billion (S. 2712) or a $14.8 billion spectrum-auction trust fund (H.R. 3565) for NG911 grants (Congressional Research Service, R48015), and the 2025 budget reconciliation package left NG911 out of spectrum auction proceeds (APCO International talking points). Private capital moved instead. Axon paid about $624.1 million in cash for AI call-handling company Prepared (closed October 1, 2025) and about $549.7 million for cloud 911 platform Carbyne (closed February 18, 2026) (Axon Form 10-Q, Q1 2026).
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Proposed NG911 grants, H.R. 1784 (118th Congress) | $15 billion | CRS, R48015 |
| Proposed NG911 grants, S. 2712 | $10 billion | CRS, R48015 |
| Proposed NG911 trust fund, H.R. 3565 | $14.8 billion of spectrum auction proceeds | CRS, R48015 |
| Axon cash paid for Prepared | About $624.1 million (closed Oct 1, 2025) | Axon Form 10-Q, Q1 2026 |
| Axon cash paid for Carbyne | About $549.7 million (closed Feb 18, 2026) | Axon Form 10-Q, Q1 2026 |
Context note: Carbyne was widely reported as a $625 million deal at announcement; the 10-Q shows cash paid after purchase price adjustments. For how emergency messaging reaches the public in the other direction, see our emergency alert system statistics.
Summary: Next Generation 911 Voice and Text Dispatch by the Numbers
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Texts to 911 (2024) | 2,243,212 (+89.1% YoY) | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| Text-capable PSAPs (end of 2024) | 3,967 | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| PSAPs in Text-to-911 Registry (Aug 2026) | 3,562 (about 62%) | FCC registry, via text911.info |
| Voice 911 calls reported (2024) | 212,910,794 | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| Wireless share of voice calls | 71.3% | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| States and jurisdictions with ESInets (2024) | 41 | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| NG911 spending (2024) | $535.1 million | FCC, 17th Annual 911 Fee Report |
| US population covered by ESInet/NGCS (2025) | 76.1% | Frost and Sullivan, May 2026 |
| States lacking statewide ESInet or fragmented | About one-third | Mission Critical Partners, MAPS 2026 |
| Carrier deadline after valid NG911 request | 6 months per phase (1 year for rural) | FCC NG911 Report and Order, 2024 |
| Location-based routing for RTT, all wireless carriers | May 13, 2026 | FCC |
| Remaining NG911 cost | $5.8-9.27 billion | NTIA, April 2026 |
| Comfortable with AI assisting in call taking | 86% | Pulse of 911, 2025 |
| Centers using automated screening | 4% | Pulse of 911, 2025 |
| Centers reporting an outage in the past year | 88% | Pulse of 911, 2025 |
| Non-emergency call reduction with AI (Jeffcom 911) | Up to 40% | NTIA, November 2025 |
| EU emergency calls made to 112 | 62% | European Commission, 2024 |
| UK 999 BSL calls answered within 5 seconds | 90% | Ofcom, May 2025 |
| Canada legacy 9-1-1 cutoff | March 31, 2027 | CRTC, via UBCM |
| Axon cash paid for Prepared + Carbyne | About $1.17 billion ($624.1M + $549.7M) | Axon Form 10-Q, Q1 2026 |
Methodology and Sources
Every figure was traced to the organization that produced it. Where a primary document blocked direct access, we cite the publisher and name the outlet through which we read it. Widely repeated claims without a traceable primary source (including a circulating claim that about half of non-English 911 callers hang up, and UK 999 annual call totals) were excluded. Derived figures (texts per day, implied total 112 calls, combined Axon spend) show their math in the text.
- FCC: 17th Annual 911 Fee Report (Feb 2026, CY2024 data), 16th Annual 911 Fee Report (CY2023 data), NG911 Report and Order announcement (July 2024), Location-Based Routing, NG911 reliability and interoperability news release (June 2026), PSAP Text-to-911 Readiness and Certification Registry
- Registry compilation: text911.info (FCC registry data as of August 3, 2026)
- National 911 Program (NHTSA): National 911 Progress Report (2020 data)
- NTIA: NG911 Cost Study announcement (April 2026) and AI-Driven Transformation in 9-1-1 Operations (November 2025)
- NENA: 9-1-1 Statistics
- Carbyne and NENA: The Pulse of 911 (2025 survey, 1,379 respondents), with detail via EMS1 (June 2025)
- Frost and Sullivan: US NG911 market forecast to 2030 (May 2026)
- MarketsandMarkets: Next Generation Emergency Response System Market (Feb 2024)
- Mission Critical Partners: MAPS 2026, Next Generation 911 (April 2026)
- Congressional Research Service: Funding the Transition to NG911, R48015; APCO International: federal NG911 funding talking points (2025)
- Axon: Form 10-Q for Q1 2026 (SEC)
- European Commission: 2024 Report on the implementation of the EU emergency number 112 (Dec 2024, data as of Sept 2024)
- Ofcom: Ex-post evaluation of emergency video relay regulation (May 2025), read via Liam O’Dell; Sorenson: 999 BSL Annual Report 2024/25
- CRTC NG9-1-1 deadline extension, via UBCM
- U.S. Census Bureau: Detailed languages spoken at home, ACS 2017-2021 (June 2025); NIDCD: Quick Statistics About Hearing
- Vendors: RapidSOS transcription and translation, RapidSOS emergency intelligence release (Dec 2024), DeskOfficer 911Translate release (Oct 2026)
- Data watch: There is no current national census of NG911 readiness; the National 911 Program’s latest published national roundup uses 2020 data, so FCC fee reports (ESInets, spending, text) and vendor estimates (Frost and Sullivan’s 76.1% population coverage) fill the gap and should not be compared directly. Text-capable PSAP counts conflict between state reports (3,967, end of 2024) and the FCC registry (3,562, August 2026) because they measure different things. Market sizes differ in scope: Frost and Sullivan covers US NG911 only, MarketsandMarkets covers a broader global emergency response category with older 2022 base-year data. Pulse of 911 figures marked via EMS1 were not shown on Carbyne’s public summary page. Axon’s headline Carbyne price ($625 million) differs from cash paid in the 10-Q ($549.7 million), and the 10-Q closing date (February 18, 2026) differs from some press reports. The Census language data (2017-2021) and the European Commission 112 report (2024) are the most recent available editions; NG911 rule deadlines in the US and Canada may shift with further FCC and CRTC action.
Last updated: October 3, 2026. We update this roundup quarterly, and the next refresh is expected when the FCC publishes its 18th Annual 911 Fee Report (CY2025 data) in early 2027.