Next Generation 9-1-1: 2023 Year in Review
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3 minute read
As 2023 comes to a close, let’s take a moment to reflect on the remarkable progress our industry has made in the advancements of next generation 9-1-1 this year. We’re standing at the precipice of a transformative era in public safety, and the limitations that long plagued our legacy 9-1-1 networks are being redefined by our cutting-edge next generation 9-1-1 solutions. The strides made just this year showcase our commitment to continued advancements in technology that offer a promising trajectory to revolutionize how emergencies are reported, responded to, and resolved. Let’s dive into the advancements and groundbreaking developments that will usher in a new era of 9-1-1.
In 2023, more than one-half the jurisdictions across the United States are either implementing NG9-1-1 or starting to plan their migration. As federal funding continues to be a topic of discussion, another focus on the ground remains upgrading infrastructure to support IP-based networks that will be capable of handling various types of data, including texts, images, videos, and more.
Next generation 9-1-1 solution providers continue to enhance location accuracy within the next generation 9-1-1 systems. And the difference in the dialogue with an emergency call taker working on a NG9-1-1 system vs. a legacy network is outstanding. In addition, we’re seeing more advanced systems that will pinpoint a person’s location within a building or densely populated urban areas using smartphone GPS, WIFI access points, and bluetooth beacons.
Interoperability among various NG9-1-1 systems, components, and existing infrastructure continues to be one of the top priorities. This is crucial for seamless communication and data sharing between emergency call centers, first responders, and various technology platforms.
Emerging technologies such as wearables, connected vehicles, and smart home systems are at the forefront of discussion this year. The goal is to enable automatic data transmission from all devices during emergencies, which will provide first responders with enhanced incident intelligence and situational awareness.
With the surge of artificial intelligence in 2023, next generation 9-1-1 is right in line. Professionals are having conversations on how machine learning can improve response readiness, response times, and delivery of emergency services. For example, machine learning algorithms may be able to sift through a large volume of information. In turn, helping determine relevance, cut out the noise, and provide the most essential information first.
As states continue to transition to IP-based networks, cybersecurity is also a top priority. Next generation 9-1-1 system resilience against cyber threats is at an all time high to ensure robust security measures are in place to safeguard sensitive data and critical infrastructure.
Educating the public about the new technology, its capabilities, and limitations is ongoing. The potential to send texts, images, or videos during emergencies is important. Also, emphasizing the importance of receiving accurate location information are key points of these discussions.
In June, the House proposed The Next Generation 9-1-1 Act of 2023, a bill that would provide $15 million of support to local 9-1-1 centers in their migration to next generation 9-1-1. The NG9-1-1 Act of 2023 State-level funding will be imperative for the nation-wide migration. It will also accelerate the transition to next generation 9-1-1. One of the most interesting facets of the bill states that starting October 1, 2024 the government will require status updates on the PSAP upgrade progress.
In addition, the FCC met and deliberated on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking aimed at expediting the update to NG9-1-1.
These strides, aiming to transform emergency response systems and create a more efficient, data-driven, public safety will pave the path forward for next generation 9-1-1.
If you have any questions during your upgrade to next generation 9-1-1, contact our team at Synergem. We’re happy to help!