NENA’s Input on Broadband Stimulus Funding

The federal government’s economic stimulus package includes funding for improving the nation’s broadband infrastructure, particularly the nation’s underserved, rural areas. Now NENA has submitted comments to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which will administer this funding, saying it should include the nation’s PSAPs, even though such agencies were never specifically mentioned in the original funding legislation. According to NENA, the funding offers, “a significant opportunity to foster the migration from analog, voice-centric 9-1-1 and emergency communications systems, into a 21st century, next generation, IP broadband-based emergency services model that embraces a wide range of voice, video, and data applications.” The group says that the NTIA should confer with state officials when establishing grants programs, “but states should not be the gatekeeper of all funds to be allocated within each state.” Read the NTIA request for comments, and then download (pdf) NENA’s 24 pages of comments.