On the heels of the introduction of important legislation to fund the modernization of the nation’s 9-1-1 systems to Next Generation 9-1-1, the Public Safety Next Generation 9-1-1 Coalition announces the launch of a wide-ranging grassroots campaign to educate and build additional support.
The Public Safety Next Generation 9-1-1 Coalition consists of national public safety associations representing law enforcement, fire, EMS, and 9-1-1 professionals who know best what is needed to modernize 9-1-1 and improve emergency response.
The Coalition helped develop and fully supports the Next Generation 9-1-1 legislation that was included in the LIFT America Act with the leadership of Representatives Frank Pallone and Anna Eshoo. The Coalition’s approach is to secure the best outcome for public safety professionals and the communities they serve as they carry out their life-saving missions. Accordingly, the Coalition believes that this legislation is deserving of widespread bipartisan support throughout Congress.
Unfortunately, some parties that disagree with the Coalition’s public safety-oriented principles are spreading misinformation about the legislation. Contrary to those opposed to the Coalition’s public safety focused approach, the NG9-1-1 legislation the Coalition supports will:
- ·Not only build upon current investments but rescue public safety agencies from being left with overly costly, substandard, incomplete, and non-interoperable solutions. This includes ensuring that existing deployments can become interoperable with new implementations.
- Ensure that technology standards prevalent in the consumer marketplace, and which have led to enormous innovation, interoperability, and economies of scale, are employed for NG9-1-1.
- Ensure that other standards that vendors desire to use have the approval of a well-recognized standards development accreditation body. This is important for avoiding the use of one-off “standards” that result in proprietary and non-interoperable solutions.
- Adhere to the cybersecurity protections for 9-1-1 recommended by an esteemed federal advisory committee. This consists of an efficient, distributed network of cybersecurity centers at state or regional levels serving multiple 9-1-1 centers.
- Create a well-rounded, balanced, and efficient advisory board composed of a cross-section of public safety professionals to provide initial and ongoing expertise to the federal agency responsible for administering the grant program.
- Not only preserve state and local control of NG9-1-1 operations but ensure that diverse local public safety input is fully accounted for in all NG9-1-1 plans and grant applications.
The Coalition is solely motivated by what is needed by public safety professionals as they carry out their missions to save and protect the public every day. The Coalition appreciates the federal commitment to fund the transition to NG9-1-1 and respects the need to ensure that federal funds are expended in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. Our grassroots effort will serve to express our support for the NG9-1-1 legislation, educate, and when necessary dispel any misconceptions.
Members of the Coalition Include:
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Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA)
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National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO)
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International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
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Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA)
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International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
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Association of Public Safety Communications Officials – International (APCO)
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National Sheriffs’ Association
