With a number of standards development organizations (SDOs) addressing NG9-1-1 issues, understanding and tracking the developing standards can be a daunting task. Since 2011, the National 9-1-1 Program has supported the standards development effort by compiling and sharing all of the current standards information in one report.

The National 9-1-1 Program recently released its most recent update of the report; “Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) Standards Identification and Review: A compilation of existing and planned standards for NG9-1-1 systems.” (http://www.911.gov/911-issues/standards.html) The value of this report lies in the fact that each of the SDOs whose standards are included have reviewed the content for accuracy and were supportive of the National 9-1-1 Program’s effort to provide the 911 community with a cumulative list of NG9-1-1-related work. These standards will be especially important in ensuring a seamless emergency communication system, particularly as the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network is deployed.

The report addresses work being done to develop technical standards, and also includes updates on standards related to data, testing and operations. The Program has made a commitment to update this report annually in order to provide the most current picture of the status of NG9-1-1 standards and support the SDOs’ effort to develop joint standards.

This snapshot of the current NG9-1-1 standards development process is just one of the tools the National 9-1-1 Program provides in its effort to collect and disseminate information to help the 9-1-1 community assess and plan for the transition to improved emergency communication services for the public.

The National 9-1-1 Program provides federal leadership to support and promote optimal 9-1-1 services. It was created by Congress to provide information to improve the 9-1-1 system and to coordinate information sharing and activities among federal agencies and the 9-1-1 community. The Program fulfills its mission by developing and distributing a variety of tools and resources for the nation’s 911 stakeholders.

The National 9-1-1 Program is housed within the Office of Emergency Medical Services at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

About the Report:

“Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) Standards Identification and Review: A compilation of existing and planned standards for NG9-1-1 systems,” is the only collective reporting of current NG9-1-1 standards − and the status of developing standards − which has been vetted with all of the appropriate standards development organizations (SDOs).

Standards are often viewed as only including the technical details that specify how individual pieces are combined and function together to comprise an object or system. In order to implement NG9-1-1, many aspects of 9-1-1 services will benefit from standardization. The report addresses work being done to develop standards in each of the following areas:
• Products – the expectations and minimum requirements reflected in description of hardware, software and technology solutions.
• Interface – requirements for connecting technologies and systems, as well as user interface between human resources and technology.
• Data – consistent storage and characterization of data to ensure seamless exchange of information across disparate systems.
• Testing – accepted methodologies to determine the performance of a product
• Performance – How a product should function in terms of quality, quantity and timeliness

To access the report, go to http://www.911.gov/911-issues/standards.html.