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Next Generation 911: A New World for PSAP Network Maintenance

 In Summary:

  • Next Generation 911 will improve emergency response dramatically, but will bring challenges that require new approaches and skill sets.

  • Network and systems management will become considerably more complicated after an NG911 system has been implemented.

  • Many PSAPs lack the IT expertise to adequately monitor and protect and NG911 system.


What's the Future of Land Mobile Radio in a FirstNet World?

In Summary:

  • Many public safety agencies have pondered whether the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN), being implemented by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) will someday replace the land mobile radio systems that have traditionally provided mission-critical voice services.

  • Agencies should continue to invest in their LMR systems, even to the point of replacing them if necessary.

  • Government agencies should continue to track the progress of FirstNet, for the day will eventually come when the NPSBN has developed to the point that it is a viable alternative for LMR.


Many public safety communications officials are wondering if they should replace their land mobile radio (LMR) system now that FirstNet has become a reality. This whitepaper makes the case for why agencies shouldn’t abandon their plans to replace their LMR system.

Now that the public safety sector is contemplating the implementation of an IP-based network known as the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN). Although this network was intended from the beginning to ramp up the public safety’s data capabilities in the field, a question was raised whether the NPSBN someday will replace the land mobile radio (LMR) systems that traditionally have provided mission-critical voice service.

The NPSBN eventually could one day satisfy all of public safety’s voice and data needs—the big question is when. Many public safety agencies have legacy LMR systems that are approaching end of life today, raising the question if they should burn up already limited financial resources on an LMR system that could obsolete in a few years. MCP recommends that public safety agencies not abandon the replacement of the LMR system for several reasons:

  • Talkaround still will be an issue.
  • System hardening still will be an issue.
  • Coverage and capacity concerns will note go away, and public safety agencies need to have complete visibility into their LMR systems regarding capacity requirements and how they are achieved.
  • User fees are expected to be much higher than today’s LMR systems.
  • Download this whitepaper on land mobile radio replacement to learn more

Download this whitepaper to read more about if, and why, agencies should not abandon an LMR replacement project in the foreseeable future.

The Technical Evolution of the PSAP in a NG911 and Public Safety Broadband Environment

In Summary:

  • Data inputs that stream into a public safety answering point (PSAP) are increasing significantly, driven by the fact that public safety broadband and next generation 911 systems are Internet Protocol (IP)-based.

  • This will raise situational awareness in the PSAP to levels unimaginable only a short time ago.

  • Public safety broadband and NG911 must be converged for data to flow seamlessly between these two networks in order to be fully harnessed.


When public safety broadband networks, such as the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network being implemented under the auspices of the First Responder Network Authority, and Next Generation 911 (NG911) systems are implemented, responding to emergency events will be dramatically different than it is today for the public safety community. Today, the amount of information that telecommunicators and first responders have is severely limited. In the future, the data inputs that data inputs that stream into a public safety answering point (PSAP) are increasing significantly, driven by the fact that public safety broadband and next generation 911 systems are Internet Protocol (IP)-based.

The Nationwide NG911 Transition Requires State-Level Coordination and Vision

In Summary:

  • Today's legacy public safety communications systems are ill-suited to handle this increased data flow.

  • States that are making the most progress towards NG911 adoption share two main characteristics: strong statewide coordination and a statewide 911 strategic plan.

  • There are eight key areas that 911 state leaders should evaluate to identify potential deficiencies of a statewide 911 program.

Next Generation 911 (NG911) represents a significant leap forward for the emergency response sector primarily because it will deliver dramatically improved situational awareness to telecommunicators and field personnel. But the transition from legacy technology to NG911 is a difficult undertaking, especially when states try to go it alone. NG911 will require that state 911 authorities establish an effective leadership structure and then develop a comprehensive strategic plan to execute the migration.

911 Operations: How Next Generation 911 and FirstNet Will Impact PSAPs

In Summary:

  • Together, Next Generation 911 and the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network will enhance the role of PSAPs exponentially.

  • While exciting, this also creates uncertainty as these new networks collectively will unlease a torrent of information and data that must be processed.

  • PSAPs will need to undergo profound operational and policy changes.


The NPSBN and NG911 will generate new forms of data communications that will enable telecommunicators to make better-informed decisions when dispatching first responders. This whitepaper discusses the profound operational changes that 911 centers will need to make in order to take advantage of the new capabilities.
 
Because the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) and Next Generation 911 (NG911) are both Internet Protocol-based, broadband-enabled platforms, they will generate new forms of data communications that will flow into PSAPs and improve situational awareness dramatically. However, telecommunicator jobs are already stressful. These stresses will rise quickly if PSAPs are not well-positioned to handle the enormous amounts of data that will be available in the future. Instead, PSAPs need to make a number of major operational changes. This whitepaper discusses those operational changes, which include:
  • Data-analytics systems
  • Data storage
  • Modern, state-of-the-art communications systems
  • Bolstered telecommunicator support programs
  • Enhanced workplace training

Next Generation 911: A Mission-Critical Transformation for Today's 911 System

In Summary:

  • Public safety communications is beginning to implement modern solutions to improve outcomes for 911 callers.

  • Next gen 911 is a standards-based, all IP emergency communications infrastructure that enables voice and multimedia 911 communications.

  • Failing to implement NG911 in a timely manner will increase costs, risk incompatibility with emerging communication trends and increase security risk for the 911 community. 

Today, access to 911 for most is limited to a voice call; in contrast, Next Gen 911 will enable the ability to transmit photos, videos and other existing and future forms of broadband-enabled data, in addition to voice, to 911 professionals. A coordinated approach must be adopted in the transition to Next Gen 911 to avoid a patchwork deployment and limited interoperability with neighboring agencies. 

A Checklist for Securing Public Safety Answering Point Facilities, Personnel and Data

In Summary:

  • Government facilities are being targeted by hackers, cyber criminals and active shooters, a trend that is increasing in frequency.

  • Most security breaches are borne of comparatively benign circumstances, such a routine password changes or the use of personal devices in the workplace.

  • Physical breaches of a public safety answering point (PSAP) can be equally as devastating.

Several alerts have been issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that government facilities are being targeted by hackers and cybercriminals, a trend that DHS expects will increase. This includes PSAPs, also known as 911 centers. Sometimes personnel click on a link found on a website or in an email and unwittingly unleash a computer virus or malicious code known as malware. Often the breaches come in the form of denial-of-service or ransomware attacks.