FCC Takes Next Step, Seeks Public Input on NG911

After several years of planning by public safety communications and Internet groups, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has formally joined the march towards a Next Generation 9-1-1 network (NG911) with a Notice of Inquiry, asking for public comment on how such a nationwide system can provide improved communications during emergencies. “We seek to gain a better understanding of how the gap between the capabilities of modern networks and devices and today’s 911 system can be bridged,” the FCC said in the inquiry, part of the Commission’s National Broadband Plan to bring high-speed Internet service to every point in the country, including to public safety agencies. In a press release announcing the inquiry, the FCC spotlighted text messages, videos and photos for NG911, along with emergency reporting by those with disabilities, and citizen alerting. In the full text of the inquiry, the FCC mentioned other advanced NG911 features in the full text of the inquiry, such as call transfers among centers, alternate call routing for high volume periods or center problems, and links to other systems like automatic crash notification (ACN). The Commission told an oft-repeated story, claiming that during the 2007 Virginia Tech campus shootings, “students and witnesses desperately tried to send texts to 9-1-1 that local dispatchers never received,” and that police might have arrived faster with “firsthand intelligence” about the situation had the messages gone through. A comprehensive state investigation into the incident did not report that any student transmitted a text message to 911, but said police officers arrived within three minutes and were fully-informed by several 911 voice calls.

In its inquiry, the FCC credited “states, Tribes and local jurisdictions” with funding and building the nation’s separate 911 networks. But it also noted that new voice communications technologies have posed “technical and operational challenges” to the systems, requiring a nationwide approach to preserve the quality and reliability of 911.

The FCC compared the current legacy 911 system configuration and how a future NG911 network would operate. Some of the FCC’s description is very technical, but one section points out in simple terms:

In its inquiry, the FCC asked about the technical feasibility and limitations of text messaging, video streaming and photos, and about consumer privacy, particularly related to the sharing electronic medical information. The inquiry also covers the development of technical and policy standards, consumer education and awareness and inter-governmental coordination and coordination within the public safety community.

After spotlighting text messages to 911 in its press release, the full inquiry acknowledged limitations in SMS technology that make them unreliable for reporting emergencies. “Given these limitations, we seek comment on how the increasing use of SMS may impact emergency communications and whether NG911 networks should be configured to support SMS emergency communications,” the FCC wrote.

The FCC’s action was applauded by National Emergency Number Association (NENA) president Steve O’Conor. “The adoption of this NOI reaffirms the Commission’s commitment to NG9-1-1 development and implementation. The comments received in response to the Notice will undoubtedly help the Federal Government formulate a roadmap to NG9-1-1 inclusive all of technical, operations, policy, and funding issues.”

Technology company Intrado Inc. also praised the FCC’s action, and said the company looks forward to working with the FCC and Congress on the future NG911 network. The company noted that Blackhawk County (Iowa) already allows subscribers of one wireless carrier to text-message 911 for help.

Download (pdf) the full Notice of Inquiry, along with statements on the action by the FCC commissioners.