State plans to complete 911 upgrades by end of 2027

Kentucky is taking steps to modernize how emergency calls are handled.

During his Team Kentucky Update Thursday, Governor Andy Beshear discussed the statewide transition to Next Generation 911. The Governor said the transition will improve speed, accuracy, and inter-agency collaboration across the 117 911 call centers in the state.

“This is about saving lives through better technology, ensuring every Kentuckian no matter where they live can reach 911 quickly and reliably,” Beshear said.

Kentucky Office of Homeland Security Executive Director Amy Hess said the data through legacy 911 systems is primarily restricted to voice, caller ID, and limited location information. She said Next Generation 911 replaces the legacy systems “with a secure, highly reliable digital infrastructure.”

“It transforms emergency access by allowing text, voice, photos, and video calls from any compatible device,” Hess said. “This gives dispatchers and first responders far greater situational awareness of what they’re facing before they arrive on scene, creating a vital tactical advantage in life-threatening scenarios.”

The new systems have been implemented in 19 call centers to date, and full implementation is expected by the end of 2027.