FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 6, 2024

CONTACT

Aric Mitchell
info@fortsmithpd.org
479-709-5000

COMMUNITY NOTICE

Fort Smith Police Department Issues Community Advisory on VOIP 911 Call Outage

Fort Smith, AR - The Fort Smith Police Department is alerting residents to a potential disruption in 911 service affecting certain Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) customers across Arkansas, including those in Fort Smith.

This service issue, reported by AT&T, may prevent some customers from successfully placing 911 calls due to a network event. As a result, some calls may automatically redirect to non-emergency administrative lines.

The 911 Resolution Center from AT&T has issued a notification that there is currently no estimated time for repair. In response, our department urges all residents who rely on VOIP services to be aware of the potential disruption and take the following precautions:

• Alternative Contact Options: Residents impacted by the outage can attempt calling 911 again or contact our non-emergency line directly at 479-709-5100.
• RapidSOS Notification System: Despite the outage, our RapidSOS system remains active and will notify us of failed 911 calls. Our team may attempt to reach back in cases where contact is lost.
• Updates and Questions: The public may receive updates from AT&T as the situation develops. The Fort Smith Police Department will continue to monitor the issue and provide additional information as it becomes available.

Our priority remains the safety and well-being of our community. Please stay informed, and reach out if you experience issues with 911 services.