Emergency Communications: Broadband and the Future of 911
"Today’s 911 system is built on an infrastructure of analog technology that does not support many
of the features that most Americans expect to be part of an emergency response. Efforts to splice
newer, digital technologies onto this aging infrastructure have created points of failure where a
call can be dropped or misdirected, sometimes with tragic consequences. Callers to 911, however,
generally assume that the newer technologies they are using to place a call are matched by the
same level of technology at the 911 call centers, known as Public Safety Answering Points
(PSAPs). However, this is not always the case. To modernize the system to provide the quality of
service that approaches the expectations of its users will require that the PSAPs, and state,
local, and possibly federal emergency communications authorities invest in new technologies.
As envisioned by most stakeholders, these new technologies—collectively referred to as Next
Generation 911 or NG9-1-1—should incorporate Internet Protocol (IP) standards. An IP-enabled
emergency communications network that supports 911 will facilitate interoperability and system
resilience; improve connections between 911 call centers; provide more robust capacity; and offer
flexibility in receiving and managing calls. The same network can also serve wireless broadband
communications for public safety and other emergency personnel, as well as other purposes..."