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Summary

Future 911 systems will use Internet protocols (IP) to facilitate interoperability and system resilience, and to provide better connections between 911 call centers, emergency responders, and alert and warning systems, more robust capacity, and the flexibility to receive calls for help in any format. The National Emergency Number Association (NENA) began planning for these changes under the banner of Next Generation 911, or NG9-1-1, in 2000. Support for NG9-1-1, with its emphasis on IP protocols to provide interoperability and redundancy, now comes from a broad base that includes public safety associations, state and local 911 managers, industry, the Congressional E-9-1-1 Caucus, and the Department of Transportation (DOT). Among DOT's contributions to NG9-1-1 is the funding and supervision of six pilots to test key components of NG9-1-1 with Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). PSAPs are the call centers that receive and direct the response to 911 calls. Three major bills supporting improvements in the handling of 911 emergency calls have become law: the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999 (P.L. 106-81); the ENHANCE 911 Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-494); and the New and Emerging Technologies 911 (NET 911) Improvement Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-283, passed as H.R. 3403, as amended.). From the perspective of national policy, an important provision of the 2008 law is the requirement for the preparation of a National Plan for migrating to an emergency network using Internet Protocols (IP). The plan is to be prepared by the E-911 Implementation Coordination Office created to meet requirements of the ENHANCE 911 Act. Provisions in other recently enacted laws have also contributed to the growing base of legislation in support of 911. The value of this base may be diminished, however, unless additional measures are taken to assure an ongoing national policy. The NG9-1-1 Project sponsored by DOT is expected to end by early 2009. The E-911 Implementation Coordination Office is scheduled to terminate on September 30, 2009. Although the National Plan is likely to be completed by September 2009, this would leave no time to implement recommendations; many other goals set for the Office by Congress will likely also not be met. If the E-911 Implementation Coordination Office and DOT programs are not extended or replaced, the only federal agency with a role in implementing national policies to improve 911 systems and services will be the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC has so far used its powers primarily to regulate wireless carriers -- and more recently VOIP service providers -- with requirements for provision of 911 connections. It is the E-911 Implementation Coordination Office that Congress has charged with the responsibility of developing national policy and planning for PSAPs. The National Plan could provide the framework for deploying NG9-1-1, and for other policy decisions. Congress may choose to revisit policy questions and support for 911 to assure that 911 systems and networks are upgraded to become a fully functioning part of the United States' emergency communications safety net.

Related Legislation:
• H.R.3403
• S.911

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