Enhanced 911 on hold

A lack of money and coordination at the state and local level is delaying implementation of Enhanced 911 emergency service for cellular phones, according to a General Accounting Office report.

"Implementation of wireless E911 is several years away in many states," the report said. The service provides the location of emergency calls made from cell phones.

The service is being implemented in two phases. In the first, wireless carriers must provide general information about caller location. In the second, carriers must provide the location in latitude and longitude for display on a map for emergency dispatchers.

The second phase will cost $8 billion over the next five years, and many jurisdictions and companies do not have plans for covering the cost, according to GAO.