APCO Sitemap

9-1-1 Updates

For more information, please email 911services@apco911.org

RECAP: NG9-1-1 at the Winter Technology Summit

APCO staff led a General Session presentation during the recent Winter Technology Summit. The presentation introduced some of the key technical and operational concepts of Next Gen 9-1-1 and consisted of joint APCO/NENA working group representatives from APCO, NENA, DSS, Intergraph and DDTI. The intent of the presentation was to introduce a subset of key concepts involved in Next Generation 9-1-1. Topics covered were:

• Comparison between E9-1-1 call routing and the new call path architecture for NG9-1-1
• Policy Rules in NG9-1-1; how they will govern call routing and who will manage them
• NG9-1-1 PSAP Technical Requirements; New concepts and changing functionality

The attendees were asked to react to the content of what was presented as well as how the information was being conveyed. Insights obtained from the audience will help APCO to gauge the scope of what will be needed for longer term training on Next Gen 9-1-1. Initial feedback indicated that many stakeholders are struggling to understand how to transition to NG9-1-1 given the technology in place at their PSAPs today. Some of the key technical standards that are required for NG9-1-1 are just now being prepared for public review and comment. Other feedback urged APCO staff to carefully review the level of complication that is being weaved into concepts for Next Generation technologies. Much will change going forward and APCO must remain cognizant of how these changes will impact our members. A critical issue to be faced is with regard to the ever increasing use of new terminology and acronyms. As one attendee reminded us: "NG9-1-1 can be made much more understandable if each concept is broken down to smaller "bites" and discussed in relation to what is being done today." Discussion is taking place with regard to the need to educate a wide variety of our members on the many concepts of Next Gen 9-1-1 and how APCO will best contribute to this effort.

APCO/NENA Next Gen 9-1-1 work

APCO staff and several APCO Industry representatives have been working on the joint APCO-NENA NG9-1-1 PSAP Technical Requirements document that will be released for comment during the first quarter of 2010. The NG911 PSAP TRD will define interface requirements for the many functional elements within a Next Gen PSAP. A subgroup of APCO-NENA members will begin work after the 1st of the year to define a new functional element referred to as the Emergency Event Data Object. The Data Object will be a key element to which many systems will need to interface.

APCO staff and members are also working on a joint operational impact document with NENA that will address the Human Machine Interface for Next Gen 911. Many PSAP software systems in use today employ a great deal of flexibility to allow configuration by PSAP system administrators. The need for flexible configuration will be a necessity in NG9-1-1 systems as PSAP personnel will be expected to multi-focus on an increased amount of additional data. The first draft of the HMI document is expected to be released for comment in January.

APCO and NENA are working together to draft a series of training initiatives that will focus on Next Gen 9-1-1. Work is underway to produce several training modules to baseline all stakeholders on what can be expected as NG911 rolls out and what impacts the transition to IP based call delivery will have on the industry, PSAPs and the public. An early introduction to several modules will be presented at the APCO Winter Summit in January.

The ATIS Emergency Services Interconnect Forum (ESIF) has begun initial closure of the Request for Assistance Interface (RFAI) standard that will address IP 9-1-1 call delivery during the time when legacy call delivery systems are still in place. APCO staff will continue their membership on the ESIF Next generation work group and will be actively engaged in reviewing industry comments/input as the standards process begins.

MAAP Wireless Facilitator Visit Update

On December 1 - 2, MAAP Wireless Facilitator Team members John Gibson and Jim Beutelspacher met with local officials of Vernon Parish and the City of Leesville, LA. Missy Scott, 9-1-1 Coordinator for the Leesville Police Department, coordinated the visit and the participation of local officials, as well as other key partners in the quest of Vernon Parish to be capable of accepting and processing Wireless Phase II 9-1-1 calls.

This is the 4th on-site service provided by the MAAP Wireless Facilitator Team this year. Team member John Gibson has participated in all four visits this year! APCO extends a hearty thanks to John Gibson, Saralyn Hayes, Jim Beutelspacher, Richard Tuma and Art Rios for their work on this valuable effort to assist localities still attempting to move forward in their efforts to receive and process Wireless 9-1-1 calls for service. The MAAP Wireless Facilitator Team has also been working with staff to refine and update the Communications Center & 9-1-1 Services pages on the APCO Web Site. This is an on-going process and will soon be available for all to access.

To learn more about the MAAP Wireless program, click here.

APCO/IJIS Public Safety Data Interoperability (PSDI) Program Resources:

During the 75th Annual APCO Conference & Expo, PSDI released the Guide to Information Sharing and Data Interoperability for Local Communication Centers and the Priority Data Exchanges for Local Communication Centers.

NENA-APCO VRS/IP Relay PSAP Training/Education Project releases FAQ. Click here to read.

NEW MAAP Wireless Updated September 2008
Learn more.

Updated 9-1-1 Funding Matrix Updated April 2008
Click here to download.

APCO APPLAUDS FCC FOR POSITIVE PUBLIC SAFETY ACTIONS
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today applauded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its actions that will improve first responder capabilities. Read More.

APCO ANNOUNCES PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT PERIOD FOR CANDIDATE AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, announced today the beginning of a 30-day public review and comment period for APCO International's first candidate American National Standard (ANS), The Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Communications Training Officers (CTO). Read More.

APCO International will be conducting a Member Assistance Advisory Program (MAAP) review of the Anne Arundel County (MD) Communications Center following the settlement of a lawsuit filed by the family of a Glen Burnie woman who was killed after police dispatchers allegedly mishandled a 9-1-1 call to help her. For more information on MAAP visit the APCO MAAP section.

The committee has recently focused its efforts on establishing a Minimum Training Standard for Communications Training Officers. Following the same course as with developing the recently adopted Minimum Training Standard for First-Level Supervisor, the committee has gathered current training standards and curricula from across the nation to determine a baseline standard.

A draft standard has been written and is available for your perusal and comments.

The committee urges you, the membership, to take this opportunity to review these standards and provide comments and suggestions for them to consider.

Don't let us down! We count on your candor and your participation as we move forward.