Short Tutorial/FAQ – Can a Cell Phone Without Active Service Call 9-1-1?

Question: I heard deactivated cell phones can still call 911. Is that true?

Answer: Yes, that's true. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) law requires wireless service providers to connect calls to 9-1-1, even if the cell phone has no active service plan. In industry jargon, it's called a "non-initialized call." In this situation, however, the cell phone won't provide a location or call back number to emergency services.

This capability has saved lives in the past. Do you remember the tragic case of the abused Turpin children in California? One of the daughters rescued herself and her siblings by calling 9-1-1 with a deactivated cell phone.

Keep this 9-1-1 ability in mind if there are young children in your home and you give them an old cell phone to play with. Make sure they don't call 9-1-1 and tie up emergency lines.