The Goal of the Next Generation 9-1-1 Movement

Written by KOVA Corp

It’s common knowledge that the country’s current 9-1-1 system, which was developed around telephone technology, is not structured to handle a rapidly changing tech culture. We are an increasingly wireless, mobile, image-sharing, data-rich society and it’s imperative that the 9-1-1 systems adapt so that it can support the many channels by which critical information can be transmitted. To address the issue, an organization called the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) is spearheading a growing movement, Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) that has the ear of government agencies and other influential groups.

The Goal of NG911

The goal of NG911 is to update the 9-1-1 infrastructures in the U.S. and Canada by improving emergency communications for a wireless, mobile society and, over time, replace current services. In forming this initiative, NENA focused on technical/engineering aspects of revamping 9-1-1 as well as the institutional/transitional aspects. Wisely, NENA has focused on delivering an NG9-1-1 system architecture that not only support current needs but also takes into consideration existing market-based solutions as well as future advances in technology.

What NG911 Does

The current NG911 Initiative has:

  • Developed engineering architecture that allows for connections to a wide range of new technologies
  • Allowed for emergency call centers to record information and generates a file
  • Made the technology work with all digital information (voice, photos, videos, text messages)
  • Made sharing/accessing recorded files with/by emergency responders easy
  • Coordinated engagement on standards across the U.S. and emergency service network providers in North America

A highly-standardized system is critical to seamlessly support communications and data transfer across cities, states and countries, as well as, across the many emergency response centers and agencies like traditional PSAPs, Poison Control Centers, trauma centers and disaster management centers, to name a few.

Solidifying Standards

The complexity of this level of coordination is enormous and it must be noted that a full-featured, true standard-based NG911 system has not been completely defined, but is in development. And NENA believes that standards to support NG911 are starting to take shape and become much clearer. The organization says that demonstrations and trials are beginning to appear, which will help to identify and further define what those standards should be.

NG911-friendly Vendors

Another point of note is that according to NENA, vendors are already referring to their products as “aimed at,” “enabling,” or being ” NG911 –compliant,” adding that there are many vendors who have direct experience with parts of today’s E9‐1‐1 system and service and who are directly involved in NENA and other standards development, that can and are starting to produce NG911 oriented products.

Clearly, the NG911 movement is vastly important and essential to the safety of our tech-driven society. Their efforts are helping emergency management personnel, community leaders, and citizens become more aware of the urgency, issues, and challenges associated with the existing outdated 9-1-1 system and encouraging them to be on the front lines of planning for a future system that serves and protects 21st century citizens.

At Kova Corporation we aim to maintain our position at the cutting edge of advancements in public safety. If you need help updating your emergency contact center systems, contact us and we'll assess your needs and identify solutions.

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