The easiest way to fix the whole problem is to create a hotel/motel/elevator/swimming pool/whatever phone that has a prominent red "911" button on the front, near the dial, which, when pressed, sends the appropriate string of digits, whatever they may be, to the local PSAP. In quantities of millions, the cost per tel set would be de minimus. Lots of phones have a so-called "TAP" button, for recall, a feature that perhaps 15 people in the USA understood and/or used last year. The 911 auto-dial circuit board and button could not possibly cost that much more than the unnecessary TAP feature.


Arthur P. Bloom
"30 years of faithful service...15 years on hold"