Lucent Public Safety Systems Helps Update E9-1-1 Communications Center for Montgomery County, Texas

Business Wire, Sept 11, 2000

Business/Technology Editors

NAPERVILLE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 2000

Lucent Public Safety Systems (LPSS), a venture of Lucent Technologies (NYSE:LU), has completed a state-of-the-art Emergency Communication Center (ECC) for Montgomery County, Texas. The center contains the latest innovations in high-tech equipment and operating space, enabling multiple public safety agencies to function side-by-side and deliver emergency assistance to all Montgomery County residents faster than ever before.

LPSS worked closely with Southwestern Bell, a brand of SBC Communications, Inc. (NYSE:SBC), and Teltronics (Nasdaq:TELT) to develop the ECC. The system was designed to allow the county's current emergency operations - which include receiving E9-1-1 calls and dispatching police, fire and EMS services - to provide services immediately, and to have the ability to grow in volume without the need for further system enhancements.

"The solution provided to Montgomery County solidifies the relationship between Teltronics and LPSS for providing and promoting leading technological innovations in the 9-1-1 marketplace," stated Ewen Cameron, President and CEO of Teltronics, Inc.

Montgomery County's E9-1-1 Executive Director Robert Gunter and his team sought an upgrade in the E9-1-1 emergency system that would economically accommodate growth, with the product solutions for handling the 15,000 calls now received every month.

The system was designed to accommodate one of the fastest growing counties both in the state of Texas and the United States. Montgomery County's current population of 268,000 is expected to grow to more than 427,000 over the next 10 years. As the county's population continues to increase, the demands for public safety services will also increase.

Montgomery County is the first Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in Texas to install digital equipment and an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) solution, and one of the first E9-1-1 districts in the State of Texas to build a consolidated communications center.

Other design parameters Montgomery County required in the new Emergency Communications Center included:

- Fast call set-up time

- Ability to manage all calls, including 9-1-1, administrative and eventually
3-1-1

- Flexible internal telephone system

- Built in redundancy

After considering several competitive options, the county chose Southwestern Bell to provide all the digital networks services and connectivity. In addition, the county selected LPSS's Palladium(R) Call Handling digital solution, for high speed call routing, graphical mapped ALI (Automatic Location Indication) displays and emergency dispatching. Partnering with Teltronics, LPSS provided ISDN technology for an Intelligent PSAP Solution.

PSAPs allow dispatchers to receive emergency calls, obtain the caller's name, location, and problem, and alert the proper fire, police, or EMS in the caller's local area.

Through the use of a digital solution, including ISDN, the call set-up time is reduced from 8 to 12 seconds to only about 2 seconds. This not only allows for a faster response time from emergency personnel, but also reduces the number of calls from people who hang up when their 9-1-1 calls are not answered quickly.

LPSS's offerings include software for telephone network switches, E9-1-1 call handling equipment and mapping display solutions.

"We provide more than piece products to the public safety industry - we provide solutions," said Bob Oliver, president of Lucent Public Safety Systems. "With the Palladium - Teltronic solution, Montgomery County's emergency service requirements have been met and exceeded. The new system will allow Montgomery County to receive more than 30,000 calls per month - more than twice its current volume," said Robert Gunter.

LPPS also provides a platform for 3-1-1 calls for a potential future program, with a built-in automated attendant, including many features that quickly direct calls to the appropriate channels.

With the Intelligent PSAP Solution, call takers never need separate phones for administrative lines. This solution provides the ability to merge with legacy systems, as well as to connect to neighboring agencies, creating one seamless, integrated system.

The solution provides a "warm standby" system communications circuit, through which calls can be alternately routed to a back-up facility. This use of an isolated, yet redundant set of hardware and software helps ensure that failure at one location will not interrupt emergency communications.

"A project of this magnitude is an incredible challenge," said Gunter. "We worked as a team, found the right solutions and brought it in on time. Now, all E9-1-1 calls are received at a central PSAP and directed in seconds to the appropriate agencies, whether it is across the room, across the county or across the state."

About the Companies Involved in the Solution

Lucent Technologies has long been known for its role in designing and implementing E9-1-1 solutions within the public safety industry. Lucent Public Safety Systems is continuing to take this tradition to the next level. Working with the latest innovations in telecommunications and networking, LPSS is providing solutions with outstanding speed, quality and reliability. For more information on Lucent Public Safety Systems, visit the web site at www.palladium911.com.