Washington, D.C.– Staff and members of The Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies (iCERT) briefed key leaders of the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) on critical funding matters associated with our nation’s emergency calling system.

Across the nation, in times of intense personal crisis and community-wide disasters, 9-1-1 is the first access point for those seeking emergency response. Every day–all day and all night–communications personnel receive calls and expertly dispatch emergency service professionals and equipment to render life-saving assistance to those in need.  We rely on this process and system to reliably assure the public’s safety.

“The resources needed to construct, maintain, staff and update 9-1-1 communications centers and field operations are significant,” said David Jones, Vice President of Industry Council member company Mission Critical Partners. Jones, a former 9-1-1 center director went on to note, “these challenges are amplified given the need to upgrade to Next Generation 9-1-1, which includes Internet-based emergency calling and dispatch features.”

Due to diminishing funding, 9-1-1 centers face inadequate staffing levels and outdated equipment, at times leaving callers to face dangerous delays. As public sector budgets are now stretched in ways not seen in recent history, advancements in emergency calling ‹ and even baseline maintenance ‹ seem a daunting task.

“Our nation’s public safety communications professionals make technology investment decisions every day,” added Industry Council board member, John Melcher, President and CEO of the Melcher Group and a former multi-center agency director.  “Available funding resources help guide these decisions as agencies look to improve their systems and ensure effective deployment of emergency services. Absent the requisite resources, no emergency communications agency, center, program, or plan can reach its potential or position itself effectively for the future.”

“In an era of tough budgetary decisions we must ensure that the voice of the emergency response community is well heard, and that we garner and safeguard the resources required to deliver emergency services to those in need,” concluded Industry Council Executive Director, George Rice.

About the Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies (iCERT)
The Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies (iCERT) represents the voice of the commercial sector in the emergency communications field.  Established by a group of prominent leaders in December 2005 originally as the 9-1-1 Industry Alliance, iCERT – the Industry Council – plays an important role as the voice of companies on public policy issues impacting 9-1-1 and the emergency response system.  Industry Council members believe that business leaders¹ expertise can assist public policymakers and government emergency communications professionals as they address complex choices regarding advanced communications technology alternatives in the years ahead.  Through advocacy, research and in coordination with the public sector, the Industry Council plays a vital role in the development and deployment of emergency response technologies.

Find out more at www.TheIndustryCouncil.org.