The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) applauded the adoption of a national call-before-you-dig three-digit number 811 by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). AGC has been promoting the concept of nationwide three-digit dialing along with industry partners in the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), a non-profit group of one-call stakeholders that promote one-call awareness and deliberate best practices. AGC is the sole construction industry sponsor of the CGA.
"The new three-digit dialing number will undoubtedly save lives and we are pleased that the FCC designated 811 as the call-before-you-dig number,” said AGC CEO Stephen E. Sandherr.
“Calling 811 for one-call nationwide will enhance worker safety, public safety and facility reliability. Soon homeowners and farmers as well as contractors who work in multiple states will be able to make a call to locate underground facilities with less confusion and more efficiency,” said AGC representative to the CGA board of directors Vic Weston.
Representative Joe Barton (R-Texas), chair of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality provided key support to help enact the “Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002,” which mandated this three-digit number. Congressional advocates have joined in this effort with the FCC, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta and Ms. Stacey Gerard of the Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
States have established “one call centers” for people to call before they dig. Nationwide, one-call centers handle between 15 million and 20 million calls annually. It will take time for the telecom industry and the FCC to fully implement the new number across the U.S., and AGC looks forward to assisting this effort through its membership and chapters.
