NENA Sets Priorities for Congressional Action

During their annual Washington (DC)-based conference, the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) distributed their “talking points” and priorities for the 111th Congress, including funding for legislation that was passed in 2004, but never fully funded. NENA urged that all legislative and federal homeland security policy should, “take into consideration the critical role of 9-1-1 in our nation’s homeland security.” The group said that coordinated state planning among all emergency response professions, “should be required with a goal of the establishment of nationally coordinated regional and state IP -based emergency services networks.” Topping the association’s list of priorities was funding the ENHANCE 911 Act that authorized up to $250 million a year in funding, but which never actually received the money from a Congressional authorization. NENA has also targeted increased support and funding of the National E911 Implementation and Coordination Office created in 2004, and reauthorization of the ENHANCE E911 Act that is set to expire this October. NENA also says that 911 access by multi-line telephone systems (MLTS) is, “one of the most over-looked areas” of availability, and that Congress should “lead by example” by requiring federal office buildings to have an MLTS solution, and require the FCC to study the issue for a national solution. Download (pdf) the talking points here.