911 Experts, FCC Officials Call for Immediate NG911 Implementation, Universality of Technologies

Even though it's a system that has become the "envy" of the world, "the nation's 911 system is at a crossroads," said FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in a prerecorded video aired Monday at the NENA conference. Wheeler is currently attending the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. "In too many communities, the communications technology behind the [911] system is dangerously out of date," he said. "Too many PSAPs have been unable to incorporate next-generation capability and functions in their operations." Wheeler said that while "many" states and local communities have made progress toward NG-911 systems, "too many have not," which has resulted in a "dangerously stalled" transition to an IP-based emergency communications network. Acknowledging that most PSAPs face "constant challenges" to maintain adequate funding for their operations, Wheeler said the FCC is committed to "doing everything in [its] power" to make the NG-911 transition happen, and pledged to open his testimony at every congressional hearing where he is called to testify by "reminding those listening that NG911 and the lives it saves is in their hands.”

FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Chief David Simpson said that as the shift to NG-911 occurs across the country, "universality" is threatened as there is a growing potential for a patchwork system. Simpson suggested a number of actions that could be taken at the national level to "reduce the risk of the transition [to NG-911] and make sure we get additional functionality" without "imperiling" it with a sense of uncertainty of how 911 services will operate in any given community. First, Simpson said there needs to be a set date as to when the NG-911 initiatives outlined by Congress must be implemented. "Without a date certain, we increase the potential of a very ragged delivery of capabilities across the nation, [which could] negatively [impact] what has become a universal service." Simpson also floated the idea of a funding program to address NG-911 capital costs, saying that mechanism would be "very appropriate.”

Simpson called a lack of sufficient funding at the state and local level "one of the biggest obstacles" to the transition to NG-911. "Transitioning creates real challenges," he said, adding that the FCC sees an "appropriately structured" grant program conditioned on implementing NG-911 in a manner that improves efficiency as an option. Simpson also spoke on the need for cybersecurity protections when operators transition to NG-911 and said the nation should look at "integrated PSAPs as critical infrastructure for emergency responders." Simpson said he is "very encouraged" by the progress that has occurred with text-to-911 so far, and also touted the "enormous potential" of apps to aid 911 services. He also said it's important not to become fixated on the technology aspect of NG-911 and forget the "most important aspect" of PSAPs -- the workforce. "The telecommunicators are the folks on the tip of the spear and are the ones who will be able to put together multiple sources of information and make sure the response is tailored appropriately," Simpson said.

Trey Forgety, NENA government affairs director, urged 911 supporters and stakeholders to lobby Congress to "accelerate the transition to NG-911" and to "pass comprehensive MLTS legislation." Both chambers of Congress are currently considering pieces of bipartisan legislation to ensure direct access to PSAPs by dialing 911, which Forgety said need improvements. Rep. Louis Gohmert, R-Texas, introduced HR-4167, and Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Deb Fischer, R-Neb., introduced S-2553. "Do [these bills] have everything in them that we would want? No, they don't," Forgety said. "We want to make sure we are getting to a much more rapid pace of change that can be beneficial to our communities." Forgety said the bills don't cover precise location and callback ability, but that NENA is glad there is a starting point. He also called for immediate nationwide NG-911 adoption. "We need NG-911 nationwide and we need it now," he said. "We have to respond in the way consumers communicate. It's imperative. We have to do this." Forgety said "everybody wins" with NG-911 adoption.

FirstNet Senior 911 Adviser Bill Hinkle said it's important that both FirstNet and NG-911 work together and be seen as complementary systems. "NG-911 and FirstNet represent the two halves of the public safety request for service and the response," he said. "PSAPs become the nerve center in the middle." Hinkle said there is a need to establish "uniform, nonproprietary standards," and that emergency responders and the public will benefit from having the combination of FirstNet and NG-911 systems. "The convergence of the networks will dramatically enhance the emergency response," he said. Hinkle also told the NENA crowd that it's important to keep in mind that FirstNet will not replace NG-911 systems but rather will work alongside them.