NENA: The 9-1-1 Association, which represents public safety officials and the 9-1-1 technology community, heralded the amendment as a testament to the importance the public and Congress place on robust emergency communications systems. "Alongside the other public safety measures included in both the majority and minority bills, now is clearly the right time for Congress to take up NG9-1-1 legislation,” said NENA President Rick Galway. "The deployment of emergency text, photo, and video capabilities for consumers should happen alongside the deployment of those same technologies for police officers, fire fighters, and EMTs,” Galway added, referring to the need for a public safety broadband network. The two provisions could eventually work together to provide an end-to-end path for communications technologies the public is already using on a day-to-day basis, but which have not previously been available for use in emergency calling or by responders in the field.

 

For some, these measures are a particularly welcome advance. Millions of Americans with hearing or speech disabilities are limited to using legacy technology because current networks and 9-1-1 systems cannot handle text messages sent to 9-1-1. The provisions of the Eshoo-Shimkus Amendment, however, would allow 9-1-1 authorities to deploy modern equipment capable of receiving text messages as carrier networks are upgraded to route them quickly and correctly based on the user’s location.

 

For full details on the amendment, see the report at nena.org