Abstract: A system and method for routing communications in an emergency service network. In operation, an upstream functional element, for example, an emergency service routing proxy operating in the emergency service network, receives a call queue state notification from downstream functional elements, for example, public safety answering points. The call queue state notification indicates a state of a call queue respectively associated with the one or more of the public safety answering points and further includes routing control variables and a corresponding value selected by the downstream functional elements for each routing control variable. When the upstream functional elements receive an incoming emergency call from a call originating device, the upstream functional element selects a downstream functional element based at least in part on the routing control variables and the corresponding value, and further routes the incoming emergency call to the selected downstream functional element.