Our Response to the FCC Notice of Inquiry on Next Generation 9-1-1: Part 1

 

On December 21, 2010 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Notice of Inquiry on Next Generation 9-1-1. 

We submitted our comments to the NOI in a very comprehensive document covering our viewpoints on how to bridge the gap between today's 9-1-1 system to an advanced communications system that enables the public to obtain emergency assistance beyond traditional voice-centric devices.

We invite you view the complete comments on the FCC website.  However, if you're looking for the cliff notes, we're planning on a 4-series blog post that begins today with a focus on NG9-1-1 capabilities and applications.

Potential Media Types in NG9-1-1

All media types should be reviewed to determine how each will benefit a 9-1-1 caller and first responders and the primary media type should remain two-way communications between the user and the public safety answering point.

Primary v. Secondary Usage of Media Types

Primary media should include "message-based" text and "real-time text."  Additional methods should include still images, real-time video, telemetry data and auxiliary medical and other personal data should be considered secondary data.

PSAPs should be expected to support primary media but should have discretion with regard to secondary media.  And, when it comes to privacy issues, they should have the same requirements that are currently defined by federal and state laws and regulations.

SMS for Emergency Communications

We feel that there are no insurmountable technical barriers to a SMS to 9-1-1 service and that it's possible to implement such a service with negligible impact on infrastructure.  The key is to make the SMS to 9-1-1 connection interconnection at the right point in the process. 

Without a business or regulatory driver to implement this interconnection, a similar legislation process may be required for the implementation of SMS to 9-1-1 interconnection services as what was required to implement cell phone location services from the carriers. Adherence to standards will also be required.

NG9-1-1 Applications for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs

Deaf, hard-of-hearing, speech-impaired and other special needs persons and those who choose to use Real Time Text (RTT) should be supported with a Text over IP (ToIP) solution with the implementation of an IP-based NG9-1-1 infrastructure.

Non-English speakers often rely on language interpreters to relay information back and forth between call takers and the 9-1-1 caller.  The same procedures that are used for voice calls can be adapted to other calls entering the PSAP.

We'll continue our series on Monday with a blog post on NG9-1-1 network architecture.