About Us

About the Mobile County Communications District

About the Mobile County Communications District

The Mobile County Communications District (MCCD) was organized in 1984. The Communications Center (9-1-1 Center) answers all 9-1-1 calls throughout Mobile County.

Also located in the facility are the dispatch operators for the Mobile Police Department, Mobile Fire Rescue Department, Mobile County Emergency Medical Services and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office .

9-1-1 Origin and History

The State of Alabama holds a pretty unique spot in 9-1-1 history on the national level. The very first 9-1-1 call placed in the country was in Alabama. That’s right, on Friday February 16, 1968 the first 9-1-1 call was completed in Haleyville, AL.

The President of Alabama Telephone Company was inspired by an article in the Wall Street journal. The article announced that the FCC and AT&T had decided 9-1-1 would be the nationwide emergency number. B.W. Gallagher, president of Alabama Telephone Company, felt that the independent telephone industry had been overlooked in the decision so he was determined that an independent company would the first to complete a 9-1-1 call.

Some years later during the Alabama legislative session of 1982-1986 the Mobile Delegation spearheaded the legislation the create 9-1-1 in Alabama. Representatives Ken Kvalheim and Victor Gaston introduced HB 332 (1984 Act no. 84-369) to create 9-1-1 in Alabama and Senator Ann Bedsole carried the legislation in the Senate. Governor George Wallace signed it into law.

On July 9, 1984 the Mobile County Commission adopted a resolution creating the Mobile County Communications District (9-1-1 in Mobile County). According to state law each Emergency Communications District (ECD) is to be governed by a Board of Commissioners who shall be appointed by the County Commission. The first Mobile County Communications District Board of Commissioners were: County Commissioners Dan Wiley and Douglas Wicks, Mayor Robert Doyle, Sheriff Tom Purvis, Joe Ruffer, Ed Massey and Roger Payne.

A Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) is a location where 9-1-1 emergency calls are routed for a particular area. From the PSAP the call is routed to the appropriate jurisdiction and agency needed for that emergency situation. Mobile County has only one PSAP which is by far the most efficient system. Many counties have multiple PSAP locations.

Board Members

  • Mr. Roy Hodge, Chairman
  • Mr. Jeff Reeves, Vice Chairman
  • Mrs. Cynthia Coleman, Treasurer
  • Dr. Stephen Bowden
  • Mr. Robert Adams
  • Mr. Chris McLean
  • Mr. Glenn Hodge

Board News

Below you will find downloadable PDFs with information released by the Mobile County Communications District Board of Commissioners.

February 2023

2023 Board Minutes

The following minutes have been approved by the Mobile County Communications District Board of Commissioners. Download the meeting minutes in a PDF format.

2022 Board Minutes

The following minutes have been approved by the Mobile County Communications District Board of Commissioners. Download the meeting minutes in a PDF format.

2021 Board Minutes

The following minutes have been approved by the Mobile County Communications District Board of Commissioners. Download the meeting minutes in a PDF format.

2020 Board Minutes

The following minutes have been approved by the Mobile County Communications District Board of Commissioners. Download the meeting minutes in a PDF format.

2019 Board Minutes

The following minutes have been approved by the Mobile County Communications District Board of Commissioners. Download the meeting minutes in a PDF format.