FCC Seeking Test Sites For 911 Future Tech

Faced with the quickly-approaching world of Internet-based communications, today the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed several real-world technology trials to help guide their regulatory work, including future 911 technology. The tests will include Next Generation 911 (NG911) networks, but also a study of how network resiliency and public safety are affected by  wireless and IP- based services. The trials will be conducted by the FCC’s Technology Transitions Policy Task Force, are are intended to give the commissioners “good data,” the agency said in a statement. The project will include network migrations from copper wire to fiber optic cables and IP technology, and to wireless communications. “Today’s Notice reflects the need to be smart about how we structure trials for them to be useful,” the FCC said. “We need to know what we want to test and how we will evaluate the results.” The 911 trials will focus on NG911, and the FCC is seeking, “on a trial that will assist the Commission, state, local and Tribal governments, and Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) in a few geographic areas to answer important technical and policy questions to accelerate the transition.” NENA applauded the action, saying it will “ultimately spell the end for traditional analog telephones while preserving critical 9-1-1 service for wireline subscribers.” Download (pdf) the Public Notice about the project.

Here is NENA’s full statement on the FCC’s action:

The 9-1-1 Association today expressed its support for an FCC action that will ultimately spell the end for traditional analog telephones while preserving critical 9-1-1 service for wireline subscribers. In a Public Notice, the Commission’s Technology Transitions Policy Task Force seeks comment on plans to allow local telephone companies to begin transitioning pilot markets to all-IP service. As a condition of participating, carriers would be required to deploy Next Generation 9-1-1 service for consumers and 9-1-1 centers in pilot markets. Next Generation 9-1-1 will dramatically expand the capabilities of local 9-1-1 centers using secure, private IP networks that will someday accept text, images, and video calls in addition to voice.