September 2020

NG911 Interstate Playbooks: Case Studies in Collaboration, Coordination and Joint Purchasing

PSAPs, states and jurisdictions around the country are determining optimal ways to interconnect and move NG911 forward, but they don’t have to do it alone. Best practices, real lessons learned and sample documents have been collected in a series of NG911 Interstate Playbook chapters since 2016. The latest chapters – 3 and 4 – follow new jurisdictions and the unique challenges and opportunities each experienced to achieve interoperable NG911 systems. Join this webinar to hear from the leaders involved in creating each chapter.

Chapter 3 focuses on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) region. Representatives from Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia will discuss the steps and processes to collectively plan and independently procure an integrated, interoperable regional solution for NG Core Services and an ESInet (Emergency Services Internet Protocol network).

Chapter 4 takes a deeper dive into the transition of NG911 services in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Each state, at a different stage of implementation and transition, is approaching NG911 in a way that meets their unique needs. Representatives will share tips for testing between two different ESInet providers, lessons on decommissioning and retiring of legacy network elements, methods for reviewing your current status and rules to determine legislative authority readiness.

July 2020

911 DataPath: A Strategic Plan for Sharing 911 Data Nationwide

Because a standard 911 data system doesn’t exist, the opportunity to share actionable data across the nation is limited. The 911 DataPath is an initiative to produce a framework to enable the voluntary adoption of a uniform 911 data system. The initiative is underway and needs input on the types of administrative data for decision making that would be useful when shared with other 911 systems.

This webinar address how access to timely, automated, reliable data sharing will help PSAPs and ECCs in their everyday work, how the 911 community can learn about and contribute to this effort, and the types of data under consideration.

Speakers Include:

Steve McMurrer, 911 Systems Administrator, Department of Public Safety Communications, Fairfax County, Virginia
Jackie Mines, Senior Consultant, Mission Critical Partners, Project Manager
Laurie Flaherty, Program Coordinator, National 911 Programr

May 2020

GIS Data in Pandemic Response & Non-English Text-to-911 Requests

As the 911 industry works to improve GIS data for the transition to NG911, other benefits include accurate COVID-19-related data. The Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT) shares how Maryland officials are providing a clear picture of the state’s response and how statistics are used to support decision-making during response, recovery and rebuilding phases in this unprecedented event.

Individuals with limited English Proficiency (LEP) may experience additional challenges in emergency situations when communicating with public safety officials. As Text-to-911 becomes common across the nation, public safety telecommunicators will receive more non-English texts, resulting in increased needs for translation services. The IJIS Institute provides details on the Institute’s initiative to address technology, standards and affordability of a commercially available, public safety-grade solutions for Text-to-911 translation.

Speakers Include:

Julia Fischer, Geographic Information Officer / Director, Data Services (BI/GIS) Maryland Dept of Information Technology
Michael Alagna, Program Director of the IJIS Institute

March 2020

Next Steps in Reclassifying Public Safety Telecommunicators

Roles and responsibilities for public safety telecommunicators have evolved drastically over the years. As emergency communications centers transition from a legacy environment to Next Generation 911, those roles will continue to change. In the most recent Standard Occupational Classification (SOC), the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) made the decision to not reclassify Public Safety Telecommunicators’ role as Protective Service Occupations (as opposed to administrative/clerical occupations).

To enable the 911 community to work within the requirements of this system to reclassify telecommunicators, it is important to understand the BLS SOC process and the objective data utilized. This session:

• Provides background on the BLS SOC
• Shares a template job description that could be used by local/state 911 agencies to provide the date necessary for BLS SOC reclassification
• Shares a call for action

Speakers Include:

Dan Henry, Regulatory Counsel and Director of Government Affairs, National Emergency Number Association
Katherine Elkins, EMS/911 Specialist, National 911 Program
Michael Nix, Executive Director, Georgia Emergency Communications Authority

January 2020

New NG911 Self-Assessment Tool and Statewide NG911 Operations Center Case Study

A newly released tool helps 911 agencies evaluate the current level of NG911 readiness and clarify next steps toward implementation. The easy-to-use assessment resource guides users through a series of questions and categorizes the information into one of six identified NG911 maturity states.

Learn how the tool can work for you from a member of the SAFECOM-NCSWIC NG911 Working Group who has actually used it.

Then, learn how North Carolina is ensuring that its service runs at peak performance at all times. The new North Carolina Network Monitoring and Assistant Center (NMAC) immediately troubleshoots network issues and quickly reroutes calls to other PSAPs. Learn about:

• The concept behind the statewide network operations center
• The process to build out the center and train staff
• Challenges that were overcome in the transition from legacy 911 to NG911

Speakers Include:

Tyrell Morris, Executive Director, New Orleans Parish Communication District and member of the SAFECOM/NCSWIC NG911 Working Group
Gerald Jaskulski, Management and Program Analyst, US Department of Homeland Security and member of the SAFECOM/NCSWIC NG911 Working Group
Pokey Harris, Executive Director, North Carolina 911 Board
Gerry Means, North Carolina NG911 Network Manager