Coordinating and Participating in Federal 911 Activities

The National 911 Program interacts with various councils, advisory groups and departments to represent 911 and advance emergency communications at the Federal level

Federal Communications Commission’s Communications, Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council

The National 911 Program staff actively participates on the advisory council (CSRIC V) as a member of Working Group 1, “Evolving 911 Services.” This group focuses on issues related to routing and rerouting 911 calls among Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). At the latest meeting this September, the council released the final report, “Task 2: 911 Location-Based Routing” which identifies and evaluates location-based routing methods.

Task Force on Optimal Public Safety Answering Point Architecture (TFOPA)

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created this task force to evaluate and report on the structure of PSAPs and whether consolidation would improve operational efficiencies and save lives. The 911 Program contributes to three subgroups within the task force. The final meeting for the current TFOPA charter will take place on December 2, when the group will deliver its final report to the FCC.

Department of Homeland Security Office of Emergency Communications

After spending 18 months working as a liaison in the 911 Program, Jerry Jaskulski has returned to the OEC where he will continue with liaison activities until a successor is chosen. The Program and OEC have focused on several initiatives to continue increasing and enhancing the interaction of the two programs.

Emergency Communications Preparedness Center

The Emergency Communications Preparedness Center (EPCP) is comprised of 14 federal departments that have a role in emergency communications, including regulation, policy, operations, grants and technical assistance. Governed by an executive committee, staff of the 911 Program participates in the EPCP’s Steering Committee and as Co-Chair of the 911 Focus Group and member of the Grants Focus Group.

Department of Defense

The Program actively provides support to the Department of Defense with the ultimate goals of supporting their progress in migrating military PSAPs to NG911 and increasing the collaboration between military and civilian PSAPs. The Program is also facilitating 911 involvement in a DoD pilot, aimed at utilizing 911/PSAP information and data to increase situational awareness of incidents involving DoD personnel.

SAFECOM Executive Committee

The National 911 Program is a member of the Department of Homeland Security’s SAFECOM executive committee, a group of public safety leaders who help foster access to policymakers and public safety stakeholders.

FirstNet

The National 911 Program staff regularly interacts with a number of staff members of FirstNet. This past August, they joined FirstNet as part of a panel presentation at the National Conference of State Legislatures. The Program will continue collaborating with FirstNet throughout this year and next, as FirstNet awards a partner contract and states move forward in finalizing their state FirstNet plans.