ITS offers innovative technology solutions to address system and technology challenges to enable the existing 9-1-1 system to deliver the next generation of capabilities and services. By capitalizing on recent technology advances, the ITS Program has delivered a Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) system design that, when implemented, will:

• Enable 9-1-1 calls from any networked device based on the development of a flexible, open, non-proprietary architecture.
• Provide quicker delivery and more accurate information to responders and the public alike.  Delivery will incorporate better and more useful forms of information (real-time text, images, video, and other data.
• Establish more flexible, secure, and robust public safety answering point (PSAP) operations with increased capabilities for sharing of data and resources, and more efficient procedures and standards to improve emergency response
• Maximize the use of available public capital by facilitating increased coordination and partnerships within the emergency-response community. This will result in operating and maintenance cost savings.
• Enable call access, transfer, and backup among PSAPs and between PSAPs and other authorized emergency organizations that are geographically separated.
• Enable greater interoperability of the network (a system of systems) through the incorporation of industry standards The NG9-1-1 Initiative has coordinated engagement on standards across the Nation and with other emergency services network providers within North America (Canada and Mexico), recognizing the global impacts of routing emergency calls in an IP environment.

For transportation, updating to an NG9-1-1 system is a critical component in enabling 9-1-1 callers to quickly send more accurate and more useful forms of information about traffic incidents and crashes to 9-1-1 emergency call centers. For example, the NG9-1-1 system will be able to:

• Handle a 9-1-1 call from a personal digital assistant (PDA) or computer
• Receive automatic crash notification data (on speed, vehicular rollover status, or crash velocity) sent through a third-party service provider such as General Motors' OnStar
• Receive photo images, data sets, and medically relevant data that can be routed to appropriate emergency medical services

Moreover, NG9-1-1 will provide a tool for sending location-targeted hazard alerts and evacuation guidance to motorists and other mobile device users through reverse messaging.