This September, our country will recognize a solemn and unfortunate anniversary – 25 years since the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Many in our profession weren’t born yet or are too young to remember that day and those that followed. For others, such as myself, there are aspects of it we will never forget.
On September 8, 2026, the Public Safety Next Generation 9 1 1 Coalition submitted a filing to the Federal Communications Commission encouraging it to adopt and enforce interoperability requirements for the deployment of Next Generation 9 1 1 (NG911).
This panel brought together experts in government affairs from four leading 9-1-1 and public safety organizations to discuss current federal policy issues that could shape the future of 9-1-1 and emergency communications.
Representatives Kat Cammack (R-FL) and Norma Torres (D-CA), co-chairs of the Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus, sent a letter on July 2 urging House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring S.725, the Enhancing First Response Act, to the House floor for consideration under suspension of the rules.
Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted two orders that advance the interests of public safety by modernizing 9-1-1 reliability requirements and strengthening the security of emergency alerting systems.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has announced his proposed agenda for the Commission Meeting scheduled for June 25. Among other items, the FCC commissioners are scheduled to vote on public safety matters of particular importance to APCO members.
On March 11, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ted Budd (R-NC) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced the Next Generation 9-1-1 Act in the U.S. Senate. APCO International celebrates the introduction of another bipartisan effort to strengthen the nation’s commitment to modern, resilient emergency communications.
On January 21, 2026 the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced the Emergency Reporting Act (H.R. 5200) and the Kari’s Law Report Act (H.R. 5201), bills that will help ensure access to 9-1-1 and improve situational awareness regarding network outages that can affect calls to 9-1-1.
On December 16, APCO President Jack Varnado, testified before the House Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee at a hearing titled “Legislative Improvements to Public Safety Communications in the United States.”
On December 10, 2025, APCO International welcomed the introduction of the Next Generation 9-1-1 Act in the U.S. House of Representatives to advance the nationwide transition to Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1).
https://www.apcointl.org/~documents/filing/apco-reply-comments-ng911-reliability-interoperability-0917025?layout=file
On September 17, 2025, APCO filed reply comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on improving interoperability and reliability for NG9-1-1.
On August 4, 2025, APCO submitted comments in response to the FCC’s Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on improving interoperability and reliability for NG9-1-1 systems.
In September 2024, the system was put to the test when Hurricane Helene inflicted hundreds of billions of dollars worth of damage to the southeast, including the 9-1-1 infrastructure.
This session addressed key concepts of Next Generation 9-1-1, including interoperability, reliability and redundancy, cybersecurity and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
A coalition representing state and local government leaders, industry professionals, and tens of thousands of 9-1-1 first responders sent a letter to members of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee urging federal investment in Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) technology to replace outdated emergency communications infrastructure across the country.
For years the 9-1-1 industry has been told that Next Generation 9-1-1 is on the horizon — it is coming soon so get ready. ECCs around the country are adopting technology that brings either livestreaming video into the 9-1-1 center or live 9-1-1 calls into the patrol car.
On January 29, Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced the Making National Parks Safer Act, a bill that directs the Department of the Interior to develop a plan for upgrading emergency communications centers (ECCs) managed by the National Park System to NG9-1-1.
On September 17, the Public Safety Next Generation 9-1-1 Coalition, consisting of APCO and the nation’s leading national public safety associations, held a summit on Capitol Hill demonstrating the urgency for Congress to fully fund the transition of today’s aging and vulnerable 9-1-1 networks to a modern, secure, interoperable and innovative Next Generation 9-1-1 system throughout all areas of the United States.
On September 17, APCO Regional Representative Paul McCallister met with Senator Blackburn (R-TN) and her staff to raise awareness of the need to fully fund NG9-1-1 nationwide.
Today, APCO International and NENA: The 9-1-1 Association sent joint letters to the presidential campaigns of Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz, and former President Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, inviting a campaign pledge to support full federal funding for the nationwide implementation of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1).
