Tax Collectors, Others Granted Access to New 911 Map

The 911 map will not be publicly available, but this example shows what it will look like.

The state agency that oversees emergency communications is upgrading to what’s known as Next Generation 911. A bi-product is a sophisticated map that is now going to be shared with other parts of state government.

Just as a map, this is more detailed than anything available online and will be updated constantly.

“You know, Google may get out to Perry County every couple of years and we have people who are there on the ground every day.”

Andy Spears handles public affairs for the Emergency Communications Board. He says the 911 map compiles a mountain of information from property ownership to criminal records. It also has the ability to link cell phone numbers with people and places.

So Spears says the map is going to be used to improve voter registration, enforce drug-free zones and even collect taxes.

“I mean this is a way to make sure people are doing what they’re supposed to be doing. So if they are evading taxes, we want to make sure they pay taxes, absolutely.”

Such household-level data would be a goldmine for marketers, but Spears says the state won’t sell the information it’s collecting. And he says agencies who’ve been given access had to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

The map that’s primarily meant for the eyes of emergency responders is supposed to be complete by the end of 2013.