SEASON 3  | EPISODE 5

Creating a single emergency number was tossed about for more than a decade before the FCC and AT&T worked together on a solution. On January 12, 1968, AT&T announced that 911 would be the emergency code in the United States. There was no plan for a “first” call, and seeing an opportunity, Bob Gallagher, president of Alabama Telephone Company, decided to be the first in the country. In this episode of the Alabama Short Stories podcast, learn about that first call and what it took to implement. 

Photo of Hayleville 911 Center courtesy Ginger Ann Brook / deepfriedkudzu.com

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