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.
