Sec. 2. Findings
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Congress makes the following findings: The Nation’s 9–1–1 systems, while a model for the entire world, lack the advanced functionality, interoperability, and capabilities that come with the adoption of new, digital communications technologies. Communications technologies currently available to the public, including first responders and other public safety personnel, have substantially outpaced the legacy communications technologies still used by most public safety answering points in the Nation's 9–1–1 systems.
This lack of modern technology, when coupled with other challenges, is impacting the ability of the Nation's 9–1–1 systems to efficiently and effectively provide responses to emergencies. Modernizing the Nation’s 9–1–1 systems to incorporate the new and evolving capabilities of broadband voice and data communications is essential for the safety and security of the public, including first responders and other public safety personnel. Efforts to modernize the Nation's 9–1–1 systems to date, while laudable and important, have been limited due to a lack of funding and inconsistent or unclear policies related to the governance, deployment, and operations of Next Generation 9–1–1 services.
A nationwide strategy for Next Generation 9–1–1 services has become essential to help guide the transition and create a common framework for implementation of Next Generation 9–1–1 services while preserving State, regional, and local control over the governance and technology choices of the Nation's 9–1–1 systems. Accelerated implementation of Next Generation 9–1–1 services will— increase compatibility with emerging communications trends; enhance the flexibility, reliability, and survivability of the Nation’s 9–1–1 systems during major incidents; improve emergency response for the public, including first responders and other public safety personnel; promote the functional interconnection of the Nation’s 9–1–1 systems with the wireless nationwide public safety broadband network being deployed by the First Responder Network Authority; and increase the cost effectiveness of operating the Nation's 9–1–1 systems.