Rules expected to enhance reliability of networks supporting NG911, as well as seeking comments on proposed testing of interstate interoperability
By Donny Jackson, Editor, Urgent Communications
In the wake of multi-state 911 service outages, FCC commissioners recently voted unanimously to approve rules that are designed to enhance the reliability of networks supporting IP-based next-generation 911 (NG911) technology, as well as seeking comments on proposals to mandate interstate interoperability.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said “calls to 911 should always go through” and that these new rules can help address some issues that are emerging as many of the nation’s public-safety answering points (PSAPs) migrate to from legacy 911 technology to NG911 platforms.
“There have been recent service disruptions that are likely part of the ongoing transition to NG911, and it’s important that we take a look to make sure that there are no unnecessary gaps in our regulatory structure,” Carr said during the FCC meeting on June 25, which was webcast. “We’ve worked hard to strike the right balance in this particular item.
“We also explore additional interoperability requirements for NG911 in this particular item, as well as ways that we can facilitate greater use of video technologies for 911 to improve accessibility to public safety.”
With the item being published in the Federal Register last week, comments on the further notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) now are due on Aug. 10, with reply comments being due on Sept. 8.
Democrat FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez expressed support for the new rules and outlined the key issues they are designed to address.
“Today’s item addresses a gap that has existed for years,” Gomez said during the FCC meeting. “As the country modernized its 911 system from old telephone-based networks to Internet-based technology, a whole new set of companies became essential to keeping 911 operational—and most of them had no reliability obligations under our rules. Major multistate have happened in exactly these unregulated parts of the network.
“This order finally closes that gap. By bringing those companies under the commission’s reliability framework for the first time, updating our standards to reflect how modern networks actually work, and requiring companies to report on their interoperability efforts as a foundation for the stronger mandates proposed in the accompanying further notice.”
FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty—whose “thoughtful” work on the item was cited by Carr during the meeting—emphasized the commission’s responsibility to ensure that 911 remains reliable throughout the migration to NG911.
“Technological advancements should strengthen emergency communications, not introduce new vulnerabilities or leave Americans without access to lifesaving services when they need them most,” Trusty said during the meeting.
“The measures adopted in this item strike that balance. By updating the definition of covered 911 service providers to include operators of key NG911 network facilities and components, while also streamlining the reliability certification process, the Commission is improving accountability and oversight, in addition to reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens. I also appreciate the inclusion of language to ensure the certification process yields assurances that providers are complying with the reliability rules without requiring excess or unnecessary updates.”
An FCC press release announcing the passage of the item noted that the major 911 outages impacting multiple states have increased as PSAPs have initiated their transitions to NG911 platforms, spurring the need for the commission to take action.
“Too often, these outages have occurred in parts of transitional NG911 systems outside the scope of the 911 reliability framework adopted in 2013, which does not address the increasingly complex array of call scenarios in IP-based network architectures that exist today,” the FCC press release states. “In many of these instances, operators could have prevented or mitigated outages by implementing reliability measures appropriate for IP-based systems.
“The new rules reduce the risk of 911 outages by ensuring that evolving all-IP systems support the reliability of NG911 and requiring entities whose operations are essential to NG911 call delivery to have necessary reliability and redundancy measures in place. The rules modernize and streamline the 911 reliability standards applicable to covered providers to reflect widely recognized reliability best practices appropriate to IP-based 911 networks.”
