Hasta La Gadget!

When it comes to contacting emergency services, the more venues the better, really. The FCC is said to be looking into increasing the methods people can use to contact 911, including text messages–a technology than has begun to supplant traditional voice calling for many cell phone users.

According to the FCC’s numbers, some 70 percent of 911 calls are made using cell phones. Added text messaging to the acceptable methods of contacting emergency services could actually help victims in instances where speaking would put them at risk–something students attempted to do unsuccessfully during 2007’s shooting at the Virginia Tech campus.

FCC chairman Julius Genachowski is expected to propose the idea in a speech today. The department will open the issue up to public comments before voting on it.