FCC Chairwoman Renews Call for 911 Telecommunicator Reclassification

In 2022, in recognition of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, I wrote to share my thoughts on the importance of the dedicated professionals who respond to calls to our nationwide emergency number—911. This year, as we mark National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, I am again writing to reiterate my support for the reclassification of public safety telecommunicators as first responders. As I noted last year, 911 operators are among our most essential first responders. Today’s 911 professionals do far more than answer 911 calls to set an emergency response in motion or passively receive information. They provide assistance, guidance, and life-saving advice to 911 callers, and they actively plan, coordinate, and direct the response activities of emergency personnel. In recent years, many states have recognized the vital first responder role played by public safety telecommunicators. I believe the federal government should do the same in its next update of the Standard Occupational Classification system, which still classifies these professionals as performing an “Office and Administrative Support Occupation.”