Significant work is currently underway to enable the 9-1-1 system to transition from telephone-based voice only systems to a fully interoperable Internet Protocol (IP) based, multimedia Next Generation 9-1-1(?) (NG9-1-1(?)) system capable of supporting a variety of different communications devices and protocols. This document contains a list of operational capabilities or features that are expected to be supported in a standards-based NG9-1-1 system. The capabilities described within this document represent minimum levels of required functionality. These capabilities should be developed around common, standard IP-based messaging and telecommunications interfaces to allow interoperability between the NG9-1-1 system and public telecommunications systems, regardless of vendor or service provider. Nothing in this document should be interpreted as limiting the development of additional capabilities or features by 9-1-1 equipment and software developers.
This document is intended to be a guide for the NENA Technical and Operations Committees, as well as other national and international standards organizations, to use in developing and finalizing standards in preparation for implementation of standards-based NG9-1-1 systems. The IP network, 9-1-1 equipment, software vendors, as well as service providers should use this requirements document as a guide during their product research and development. PSAP administrators may also find this document useful for planning purposes, as they prepare to transition from their current 9-1-1 system to NG9-1-1 systems, and to update internal policy and procedures to leverage the new features, requirements, and capabilities in the NG environment.
The current 9-1-1 network uses technology that, without conversion, is not compatible with many digital forms of telecommunications technology that are now being widely deployed. The rules and assumptions under which the current 9-1-1 systems were built are no longer valid (such as Service Providers who no longer are physically based in the locality where service is provided and arent even licensed telephony providers, nomadic customers, mobile customers, and dramatic changes associated with numbering resources to name a few). This has led to degradation in the enhanced 9-1-1 service now provided to the general public. The NG9-1-1 systems will support the communications protocols and devices now in common use by the general public.
NG9-1-1 systems implemented at the regional, state, or multi-state level, will offer more opportunities to share infrastructure, resources, work load, and call-related data throughout the 9-1-1 call / public safety response continuum. PSAP operations will no longer need to be tied to a specific geographic location / building, but can be distributed over a wide area as long as there is connectivity to the system. This will allow all PSAPs, regardless of size, to have access to any and all applications on the NG9-1-1 system and permit ubiquitous deployment of NG systems to happen more rapidly than has been possible by anything requiring an individual PSAP by PSAP deployment.
NG9-1-1 systems will give PSAPs the ability to work together cooperatively in ways that the current systems do not allow, including interoperability between other PSAPs, response agencies, and applications; as well as improved disaster recovery options. NG9-1-1 systems will allow PSAPs to receive call-related data from multiple data sources such as telematics service providers, wireless carriers, or Internet based telecommunications service providers. NG9-1-1 systems will support voice, text, images, and video, giving more emergency communications alternatives for the hearing impaired or disabled community (i.e. text messaging, video relay services, etc.) as well as the general public.
