Join Next Generation (NG) Partner Program

To best accomplish our mission and to support our continued efforts in all of these important areas, we promote programs that actively seek to grow our membership and partner on 9-1-1 related issues with other like-minded organizations throughout the world. One of the primary goals of NENA’s NG Partner Program is to further active participation to become directly involved in helping NENA set the course for future work in this vital area of public safety and community health and security. Program details follow.

Program Vision Statement

To develop, coordinate, and integrate the foundation for an evolved, fully-functional, “Next Generation E9-1-1” system that responds anytime, anywhere, from any device, in order to realize the full potential for 9-1-1 to provide public access to emergency services, enable interoperability between systems, protect human life, preserve property, and maintain general community security.

Program Mission Statement

In connection with the traditional core competencies of ongoing NENA programs, activities, and committee work in technical development, policy leadership, and operational/educational review, to establish a voluntary, open, unified approach to enable “Next Generation E9-1-1” systems and services.

Program Objectives 

The NG Partner Program is NENA-initiated and NENA-coordinated. Its primary objective is “Next Generation E9-1-1.”  We believe in order to best accomplish our mission that consensus building around a shared vision is the wisest approach with the greatest possibility for long-term success. Your involvement allows you to participate in, influence, and help execute the top priorities for 9-1-1 in 2006 and beyond. By engaging as a Program Partner you will be better able to make decisions about your own company’s investments and how to allocate limited resources and work with other organizations in ways that will provide the greatest return.

NENA intends with this program to pursue the following primary objectives: 

• establish an open and unified “voice of collective reason” to enable positive change
• review and build upon NENA’s current definition of an E9-1-1 system and service, and make recommendations on new development considerations
• work to ensure accessibility, compatibility, and interoperability among systems
• create agendas, set priorities and budgets, establish time-frames, and verify milestones
• identify, pursue, and encourage necessary funding and cost-recovery processes
• incorporate international collaboration and industry partnership efforts whenever possible
• collaborate with and involve NENA committee members, elected leadership, and staff
• collaborate with and involve appropriate industry standards organizations (e.g., IETF, ATIS, ASTM, NFPA, IEEE, ETSI, etc.)                                                                   Return to Top

Program Structure 

The NG Partner Program is governed by a high-level Management Team comprised of top NENA elected leadership, staff directors, lead committee chairs, and one key representative from each sponsoring Program Partner.

NENA identified 8 Topic Areas as the basis for the 2006 NG Partner Program.  Each Topic Area provided the basis for face-to-face meetings, with meetings usually held in conjunction with other scheduled NENA conferences or events, or conferences of other public safety entities.  These meetings are supplemented with ad hoc conference calls scheduled throughout the year, as well as an NG Partner Program web page on the NENA web site, and other internet-based communication tools for sharing information.

The Management Team meets 2-3 times a year to review and plan overall Program activities and strategy. Management Team meetings are held every fall and again each June in connection with NENA’s Annual Trade Show and Conference. 

Topic Area Meeting Goals 

NENA has a long history representing public safety on 9-1-1 issues from both the public-sector/government perspective and the private-sector/commercial perspective. The work of the NG E9-1-1 Program is to enhance, not replace, the work of other NENA programs, activities, and committees. For instance, several NENA committees drive definitions and identify areas where there is a need for formal standards. They then refer and help manage the latter through appropriate industry standards bodies. The Topic Area Meetings form the foundation for additional dialogue and for planning specific work. They are intended to help identify appropriate supplementary activities and to push for appropriate resources within both the public- and private-sectors.

As the NG Partner Program continues to progress and evolve each subsequent year, new identified projects will allow for further funding to allow NENA to facilitate, improve and refine work, support necessary volunteer and staff expenses, and enable targeted implementation trials, tests and research.

The initial scope and basic deliverables for the Management Team are as follows:       Return to Top

• Management Team
• create agendas, set priorities and budgets, establish time-frames, and verify milestones
• recommend continued Program financial plans to NENA
• assist in planning and scheduling meetings and activities
• resolve structural or operational issues as needed
• provide information on 9-1-1 affecting developments in related industries
• present on progress and recommendations at the NENA Annual Conference
• meet at the end of the year to review priorities and set the program for the next year 
• provide guidance for the final report each year from results of the Topic Area meetings

The Topic Areas will organize their activities with input from the Management Team and take advantage of traditional NENA events and activities during which to conduct face-to-face meetings, supported by ad hoc conference calls, email, and other communication.

Throughout the year communications on plans, status, and results of the NG Partner Program will be generated and managed by NENA staff and provided to NENA membership, interested parties such as the 9-1-1 Caucus, Congress, the FCC, and other state and federal as well as international groups. Periodic press releases and other public communications are intended.

Program Sponsorship for 2011 

For companies with less than $10 Million (U.S.) in annual revenue/sales the NG Partner Program Partner cost is $5,000.  For associations and other non-profit organizations the cost is also $5,000.

For companies with greater than $10 million (U.S.) in annual revenue/sales the cost is $15,000.

These expenditures and additional sponsorship investments from Program Partners throughout the year are earmarked purposely as seed money to enable NENA to effectively coordinate the Program and establish a foundation for additional, targeted, fund-raising efforts that will be necessary in order to achieve its Vision and Mission. Program-related expenses, including any necessary travel costs, are the individual responsibility of the participants.

Rights and Responsibilities 

Each paying Program Partner has the exclusive right to participate in program activities and to use the “NENA NG Partner Program Partner” logo on their website, business cards, exhibit booths, displays, brochures or other marketing collateral, etc. during each program year. 

The depth, scope, frequency, and expectations of the Program activities will be established, recorded, and monitored each year by the Management Team. All relevant materials will be shared online and through exclusive communication means between all program participants. Through their involvement, all those who participate are making a pledge to work together and support the shared Vision and Mission of the NG Partner Program.

An involved spirit of cooperation is vital for the success of the Program. NENA reserves the right to remove any individual, corporation, or other organization found not to be supporting the Vision and Mission of the Program, or to be otherwise blatantly disruptive to the process or activities.

Join NENA and NG E9-1-1: Add Your Voice to “The Voice of 9-1-1”                         Return to Top

NENA’s leadership team represents the diverse NENA membership, and collectively, the 9-1-1 industry. NENA is an organization dedicated to saving lives through the improvement of 9-1-1 services in North America, and beyond. We bring value to our industry, value to our members, and value to our organization. Your involvement as an NG Program Partner allows you to participate in, influence, and help execute the top priorities for 9-1-1 by working through our collective 9-1-1 association—NENA.