The Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) Initiative focused on the research required to produce a design for a next generation 9-1-1 system. The goal was to provide a system that is capable of providing a wider range of voice, data, and video transmission from different types of communication devices into the public safety answering points (PSAPs) and onto emergency responder networks.

The Initiative's approach was focused in two areas: technical/engineering and institutional/ transitional. Technical activities centered on documenting NG9-1-1 system requirements, developing a system architecture, and demonstrating a proof-of-concept system. Institutional activities focused on an assessment of the cost, value, and risk of a next generation 9-1-1 system and on developing a transition plan identified and evaluated all non-technical factors (e.g., stakeholders, impacts, benefits) that need consideration for a successful nationwide transition.

Two important principles bound the scope of the NG9-1-1 Initiative:

• The Initiative was specifically focused on a developing an NG9-1-1 system design, or architecture, that can accommodate today's stakeholder interests and existing market-based solutions as well as future technological advances. Nationwide planning and transition activities will be the responsibility of a National 9-1-1 Office to established as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, as new technologies can dramatically increase the amount of data available on the status of an emergency, prototyping new call taker software that will assist in the ability to receive and act upon emergency information in an efficient format was a part of this Initiative.
• The new NG9-1-1 architecture is based on non-proprietary and off-the-shelf hardware and software solutions and the associated standards required for greater networking and connection opportunities.

To develop a national NG9-1-1 system architecture, the NG9-1-1 Initiative team worked closely with industry, State and local governments and Authorities, and a diverse group of stakeholders to accomplish a three-phase set of research and demonstration activities, briefly summarized below.

Phase 1: Engage Stakeholders

Stakeholder involvement was crucial to the system design. Throughout the Initiative, a large audience of stakeholders had opportunities to provide input and peer-review of project deliverables. The 9-1-1 constituency was a diverse group of entities. A multitude and complexity of stakeholder relationships were required for successful NG9-1-1 design and implementation. Activities within Phase 1 included:

• Engaging public and private stakeholders essential to the success of implementing the next generation 9-1-1 system
• Building from established relationships within the public and private sectors in the area of emergency communications and, specifically, the 9-1-1 community
• Engaging stakeholders in the design and transition plan

Public-safety services throughout the nation have evolved through the years with different leadership, direction, and priority structures. As a result, no two PSAPs operate in the same manner. Additionally, PSAPs serve very different geographies, citizens and responder groups, and types of calls, and must support the business rules and methods of call processing from one jurisdiction to another. Stakeholder input is thus critical to ensuring that the NG9-1-1 system is highly configurable to support the diverse nature of PSAPs and State and local 9-1-1 authorities.

Phase 2: Establish the Vision

Phase 2 activities were focused on the development, of a preliminary NG9-1-1 Concept of Operations and user requirements in partnership with key stakeholders. The concept of operations communicated the vision of the NG9-1-1 system to stakeholders so that they can be actively engaged in its development and deployment. It provided the foundation for development of the NG9-1-1 requirements, and drove the design of the overall system. A Preliminary Concept of Operations was completed during Phase 2 and has been updated throughout the NG9-1-1 Initiative effort. Additionally, a preliminary requirements analysis was also produced.

Phase 3: Define the Future

Phase 3 was the largest and most complex phase of the NG9-1-1 Initiative, and had four overlapping stages.

Stage 1: System Requirements and Consensus-Based Architecture

Stage 1 activities were focused on development of a Final Concept of Operations, System Description and Requirements Documentation, and an analysis of alternative national system architectures.

Stage 2: Preliminary Transition Analysis

Stage 2 activities resulted in establishing a foundation for nationwide transition to NG9-1-1 that included:

• Examination of the costs, value, and risks associated with moving to a next generation environment
• Identification and analysis of the issues facing government, industry and the general public in planning for NG9-1-1 deployment
• Development of a preliminary plan for transitioning from today's 9-1-1 system to a national NG9-1-1 system

Stage 3: System Design and Demonstration

Stage 3 activities focused on the demonstration of the NG9-1-1 concept and included:

• Design, development, and implementation of a working NG9-1-1 model that can receive text, images, and video from several different kinds of access networks and communications devices.
• Development of critical software and process components of the NG9-1-1 system to enable a greater range of capabilities required for:
  • Receiving and routing 9-1-1 calls from a wide range of communications devices and services
  • Processing calls, in particular, the capability to handle multi-media calls, and data at the PSAPs
  • Transferring calls and data to other emergency call centers
• Proof-of-concept testing of the most critical components of the NG9-1-1 architecture. Tests are designed to ensure that the hardware and software functionality meet the requirements established with stakeholder inputs. The test plan included:
  • Tests conducted at both at laboratories and at five selected PSAPs
  • Tests that were focused primarily on the critical procedures required to successfully receive and process a 9-1-1 call
  • A set of 15 test scenarios to ensured that the test system provided the expected functionality

NG9-1-1 Call Taker Software

Prototyping new call taker software presented an important opportunity to assist the call taker in receiving and acting upon emergency information in an efficient format, as new technologies can dramatically increase the amount of data available on the status of an emergency. Importantly, the new NG9-1-1 architecture and software were based on non-proprietary and off-the-shelf hardware and software solutions and on associated standards required for greater networking and connection opportunities.

Stage 4: Final Transition Plan and Final Architecture

The final tasks of the NG9-1-1 Initiative included activities that drew from the findings and conclusions of preceding activities, as well as input solicited from stakeholders, to produce a transition plan that recommends strategies that address cost, value, risk, and deployment issues. In addition to the final NG9-1-1 system architecture, these and related documents form the basis for State and local agencies to begin development of other components that will form a comprehensive emergency communications system.

Transition to NG9-1-1 is expected to be an evolutionary process, involving technological, economic, and institutional change. In some cases, the path to NG9-1-1 implementation will depend on the underlying infrastructure and state of the PSAP and 9-1-1 Authority. In other cases, the transition to NG9-1-1 may depend on the ability of service networks to deliver NG9-1-1 calls via Internet Protocol (IP)-based infrastructure. The Final Transition Plan identifies the potential for multiple approaches to nationwide deployment. The plan describes two possible frameworks for deployment:

• Coordinated, Intergovernmental Approach: Planned and coordinated deployments of NG9-1-1 capabilities that are governed by statewide or regional 9-1-1 authorities or by informal mechanisms that enable a cooperative deployment
• Independent, Unilateral Approach: Decentralized deployments by local jurisdictions through independent initiatives

Most deployments of NG9-1-1 will probably fall between these two extremes. Each approach has advantages that are described further in the plan. 

Ultimately, the NG9-1-1 deployment vision implies some degree of leadership and ability to address future needs for funding sources, operational procedures, governance and policy, and upkeep on standards and technology. The NG9-1-1 Initiative end-products – including the Final System Design, Final Transition Plan, and Procurement Toolkit – are being transitioned to the National 9-1-1 Office housed within NHTSA.