NTIA speaker addresses the promises, challenges associated with NG911

LAS VEGAS—“I’m not going to buy the refrigerator that can call 911, but what about a fire alarm?” asked Jay English during a conference kickoff session Monday for the IWCE 2022 event in Las Vegas.

With the evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT) and other emerging technologies, emergency managers are rightfully considering the ability for their 911 systems to connect effectively with disparate operating systems owned by the general public and other stakeholder entities, according to English, who is the next-generation 911 (NG911) technical advisor for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Office of Public Safety Communications.

“The emergency communicator of today is not the PSAP [public-safety answering point] of yesterday,” English said, noting that he would be referencing 911 centers as Emergency Communications Centers (ECC).

Not one person of the few dozen people in attendance raised their hand when English asked if anyone “had less than three screens in your ECC” for each call-taker position answering 911 calls. Half raised a hand when he asked if anyone had more than five.

Virtually all ECCs in the U.S. continue to use depend on legacy technologies that have been the foundation of 911 since the emergency-calling system was established more than 50 years ago. One promise of IP-based next-generation 911 (NG911) systems is that they would allow personnel and system components to be located different locations other than the main physical 911 center—a capability that proved to be useful when the pandemic struck in 2020 at ECCs equipped to use the new technology.

Emerging platforms make interoperability between entirely different systems seamless, bringing together adjacent communities in a way that previously has been impossible. Beyond the communicative advantages, new technology is helping ECCs operating stretch their resources further—a necessary capability, given the funding constraints on seemingly all 911 centers, English said.

“Anyone here work for an overfunded and overstaffed 911 center?” English asked. “The only way I would un-retire is if I found one.”

Given these fiscal challenges, many 911 simply lack the funding needed to make the transition to NG911 technology, which is why many in public safety are calling on Congress to pass legislation that would provide at least $10 billion in federal funding to support the nationwide rollout of NG911.

Federal lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are realizing that funding NG911 nationally is “not going too to happen at the local level,” English said. Last month, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed that proceeds from future FCC spectrum auctions be used to pay for the federal financial support of NG911.

With new technology, however, 21st century problems have emerged. Notable among these is cybersecurity, which has become a major issue for government organizations of all sizes.

When considering upgrading to NG911, “Cybersecurity has to be paramount,” English said, noting that many aspects of communications systems are vulnerable.

“Your system is either has been hacked or it will be hacked. That’s not a question anymore,” English said. “What is a question is how will you defend it?”

To that end, English stressed the importance of ensuring that cyber defense measures are “baked in from the start.”

In recent years, ECCs have emerged as vulnerable targets, because they have access to sensitive information—from criminal records to health data—and many have inadequate cybersecurity infrastructure and training for their personnel, English said.

To mitigate the threats, English stressed the importance of preparation with measures that include blocking all non-U.S. traffic and segmenting data networks.

Meanwhile, English emphasized that the migration to NG911 technology likely is not something that will be completed quickly.

“We are in the middle of an evolution to next-gen 911, but it’s not a revolution,” he said. “It will have its challenges, monetarily and otherwise. But the (goal) is to foster an environment that can build toward it.”