NYC to allow digital media uploads to 911 Call Centers
Posted in File Sharing, User Generated Content | Posted on 01-19-2007 | 229 views
NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced today a plan to help fight crime by equipping 911 call centers throughout New York City to receive digital images and video from cell phones and computers. Apparently the city is basing the decision on the popularity of text and photo messaging and Internet services like Google and YouTube. Law enforcement and emergency management experts praised the plan.
“Anything you can do to advance the information flow is good,” said Jerome M. Hauer, director of emergency management under Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and now an antiterrorism consultant in Washington. “Imagine someone caught in a hostage situation transmitting pictures or video,” he added. “It’s just an incredible amount of information that can be gathered from fairly simple technology.”
The cost per call center phone will be about $10,000.
