KINGSTON - Ulster County wants seniors who have received analog cell phones from the Ulster County Office for the Aging to be aware that the phones no longer have 911 emergency service due to a Federal Communications Commission change that no longer requires the industry to support this technology.  

All major cell phone companies shut down their analog systems as of March 31, 2008. The main carriers with analog service are AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Alltell.

As a result, the Office for the Aging has temporarily suspended its 911 Emergency cell phone program due to the changes in FCC regulations.

The office will continue to accept donations of digital cell phones only and will continue its program once there are digital cell phones to distribute, according to Anne Cardinale, Office for the Aging director, and Susan Zimet, chairwoman of the Ulster County Legislature’s Arts, Education, Tourism and Community Relations Committee.

Cell phones with digital service are not affected by this change. Most carriers have notified their customers of this changeover and have offered plans to transition their old analog equipment to digital service.

Seniors may check their cell phones to determine if they have service by turning it on and reviewing the screen activity to see if service is available. If a cell phone does not have service, Cardinale asks that it be returned to the Office for the Aging, 1003 Development Court, Kingston.