President signs PSAP-upgrade legislation

President Bush has signed a bill that promises to accelerate the deployment and upgrade of public-safety answering points nationwide to comply with the FCC’s Phase II requirements. Phase II stipulates that PSAPs and wireless carriers be able to locate wireless 911 callers.

The law authorizes $250 million per year for the next five years for federal grants for PSAP upgrades. It also prevents states from qualifying for federal grants when they divert to other purposes fees collected from wireless subscribers specifically to support ehnanced 911 services. Finally, the law establishes a national coordination center that will over see PSAP improvements nationwide.

“The National Emergency Number Association is pleased to see this important measure signed into law,“ NENA President Bill McMurray said in a statement. “We look forward to working with the administration in establishing the National 9-1-1 Program Office as soon as possible.”