911 Outage

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State agency to probe why 911 network backup systems failed to work

A state agency is digging into why backup procedures failed to work after emergency 911 networks across Nebraska went down last week. David Sankey, the 911 director for the Nebraska Public Service Commission, said Tuesday he has questions for both Omaha-based Lumen and Lincoln-based Windstream about why required “redundancy” in their 911 systems failed. It’s critical, Sankey said, that emergency calls can get through to responders. “When our citizens need emergency help, we want the system to be working all the time so they can get the help they need,” he said.

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Second 911 outage in four days affects southeast Nebraska



The second 911 outage in four days affected much of southeast Nebraska Saturday night.

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Nebraska Public Service Commission votes to launch investigation into 911 outages



The Public Service Commission voted Tuesday to investigate two recent 911 outages that left multiple Nebraska counties without emergency services. The PSC opened separate investigations into telecommunications carriers Lumen and Windstream for the disruptions that happened on Aug. 31 and Sept. 2.

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Lincoln 911 upgrade includes video livestreaming, translation capabilities



LINCOLN, Neb. — Lincoln 911 dispatchers now have a new tool they say will help save lives. The upgrades allow callers to livestream with a dispatcher, give their location or even communicate in more than a hundred different languages.

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'We should have answers':
Nebraska senators dialing up legislation after 911 outages



LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska senators are ready to dial up new legislation after statewide 911 outages downed phone lines for operators at call centers. Over the past three to four months, the Nebraska Public Service Commission says it has sought to determine the cause and scope of two widespread outages. State senators say the results will help guide the response to future disruptions at the hands of technology.