The current 9-1-1 system, on which the U.S. public relies every day, is more than 40 years old. It has largely served both citizens and law enforcement well, but, simply put, the telephony system that supports emergency calls is clearly out-of-date–and sometimes its age can prove disastrous: When Hurricane Katrina hit, some 38 emergency call centers were unable to function during the storm and in its immediate aftermath.