Today, APCO President Gigi Smith testified at a hearing entitled “Preserving Public Safety and Network Reliability in the IP Transition,” held by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet. The purpose of the hearing was to examine the public safety implications of the ongoing evolution of the nation’s communications networks and how best to preserve consumer access to those networks and vital life-saving information during and after emergency situations.

In her testimony, President Smith described several key public safety considerations related to the IP transition affecting 9-1-1, dispatch, and first responder communications: reliability, security, power, location information, interconnection to legacy and next generation 9-1-1 networks, and wireless replacement issues.

President Smith also pointed out the benefits of new technologies for public safety. She noted that APCO is “fully embracing efforts to bring IP technologies into public safety communications by supporting the FirstNet network, driving Next Generation 9-1-1 deployment, and ensuring development of the most effective apps for public safety, among other initiatives.”

The full text of President Smith’s written testimony can be found here.