About the Program
The National 911 Program's mission is to provide leadership and coordination in supporting and promoting optimal 911 services. This federal "home" for 911 plays a critical role by coordinating federal efforts that support 911 services across the nation.
The 911 system was designed to provide a universal, easy-to-remember number for people to reach police, fire or emergency medical assistance from any phone in any location. Today, people communicate in ways that the designers of the original 911 system could not have envisioned: wireless phones, text and video messages, social media, Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled devices and more.
The National 911 Program works with states, technology providers, public safety officials and 911 professionals to ensure a smooth transition to an updated 911 system that takes advantage of new communication technologies. The Program does this by supporting the dissemination of grant funding and coordinating with the 911 community to create and share a variety of resources and tools to help 911 systems deliver optimal services.
Created in 2004, the National 911 Program is housed within the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Specific responsibilities related to the 911 Grant Program are shared with the National Telecommunication and Information Administration in the Department of Commerce. All other activities are supported exclusively by DOT staff and funding.
View the DOT's role in the history of advancing 911.
National 911 Coordination
The National 911 Program plays a critical role in bringing stakeholders together to share information and resources among local, state, federal and tribal agencies, national 911 associations and other public and private groups focused on developing and providing 911 services across the 50 states and six territories.
Below is a list of organizations dedicated to helping 911. It is not exhaustive but does encompass the organizations the Program collaborates with most frequently.
Federal & Tribal Agencies
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The mission of the Department of Defense (DoD) is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation’s security. The DoD works with 911 to improve emergency communications between PSAPs and the DoD during emergency incidents involving military personnel.
In conjunction with the DoD’s Digital Modernization Strategy, the National 911 Program also collaborates with DoD CIO and the Defense Information Systems Agency on the upgrade of the department’s 911 system to Next Generation 911 (NG911) technology and operations; and on activities to interconnect military and civilian 911 call centers. Demonstrating its commitment to improved 911 services, the DoD began sharing 911 system data for inclusion in the National 911 Annual Report, which reports detailed data voluntarily submitted by 911 systems nationwide.
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provides coordinated, comprehensive federal response in the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other large-scale emergency while working with federal, state, local and private-sector partners to ensure a swift and effective recovery effort.
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), through its Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB), works to improve public safety by encouraging and coordinating development of a nationwide, seamless communications system for emergency services. FCC regulations dictate how 911 calls are delivered by service providers (e.g., Verizon, AT&T). While they have no jurisdiction over 911 PSAPs, they take an active role in many 911 related issues.
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The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), located within the Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency principally responsible for advising the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus largely on expanding broadband Internet access and adoption in America, expanding the use of spectrum by all users and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for continued innovation and economic growth.
FirstNet
The mission of the First Responder Network Authority, or FirstNet Authority, is to develop, build and operate the country's first nationwide broadband network dedicated to public safety. Coordination of this effort and the implementation of Next Generation (NG911) is essential in creating a seamless emergency communication system that transmits critical information from the public to 911 and on to emergency responders.
Public Safety Communications Research Program (National Institute of Standards and Technology)
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The mission of the First Responder Network Authority, or FirstNet Authority, is to develop, build and operate the country's first nationwide broadband network dedicated to public safety. Coordination of this effort and the implementation of Next Generation (NG911) is essential in creating a seamless emergency communication system that transmits critical information from the public to 911 and on to emergency responders.
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The Disability Rights Section of the United States Department of Justice, the division that handles 911 issues for people with disabilities, works to achieve equal opportunity for people with disabilities in the United States by implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Through its multi-faceted approach toward achieving compliance with the ADA, the Section works to make this goal a reality. The Section's enforcement, certification, regulatory, coordination, and technical assistance activities, required by the ADA, combined with an innovative mediation program and a technical assistance grant program, provide a cost-effective and dynamic approach for carrying out the ADA's mandates.
National Organizations
The National 911 Program collaborates with these organizations. Below you’ll find a brief description of each drawn from the organization’s site.
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Association of Public-Safety Communication Officials (APCO) is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide and the welfare of the general public by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.
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The Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies, Inc. (iCERT) represents the voice of the commercial sector on public policy issues affecting 911 and the emergency response system. Through advocacy and research and in coordination with the public sector, iCERT plays a vital role in the development and deployment of advanced communication alternatives.
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The National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA) promotes information-sharing among those states with programs dedicated to implementing 911 emergency telephone systems. NASNA serves as a resource to assist states with statewide implementation and maintenance, as well as identify and recommend minimum standards and appropriate legislation.
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The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) opened in 1984 to serve as the nation’s clearinghouse on issues related to missing and sexually exploited children. Today, NCMEC is authorized by Congress to operate 22 programs and provide services to assist victims, families, law enforcement, social service and mental health agencies and families and others.
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The National Emergency Number Association (NENA The 911 Association) serves its members and the greater public safety community as the only professional organization solely focused on 911 policy, technology, operations and education issues. NENA works to develop and carry out critical programs and initiatives to facilitate the creation of an Internet Protocol-based NG911 system.
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The NG911 Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that works with the Congressional Next Gen 911 Caucus to promote deployment of advanced and effective Next Generation 911 (NG911) services throughout the nation. Founded in 2003, the Institute has steadily grown in membership and influence as a valued resource for policymakers. This includes NG911 expertise spanning the public safety community and service providers and vendors supporting 911 services.