Key Takeaways
- The Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing on legislative improvements to public safety communications in the United States.
- The hearing discussed several bipartisan bills, including the Next Generation 911 Act, which aims to upgrade 911 call centers and improve wireless emergency alerts.
- The legislation would establish a grant program for Next Generation 911 technology and a nationwide Next Generation 911 Cybersecurity Center.
- The goal of the legislation is to provide first responders with advanced tools to do their jobs and improve public safety communications.
- The hearing also explored the use of innovative technologies like satellite direct-to-device connections for public safety communications.
Introduction to the Hearing
The Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, chaired by Congressman Richard Hudson, held a hearing on legislative improvements to public safety communications in the United States. The hearing was convened in a bipartisan manner, with several bipartisan bills on the agenda. Congressman Hudson expressed his enthusiasm for the hearing, stating that it would be an important step in advancing legislation to improve public safety communications. He also acknowledged the importance of working together to provide first responders with the tools they need to do their jobs effectively.
The Need for Improved Public Safety Communications
The hearing was a follow-up to a previous hearing held in September, which examined the broad state of public safety communications. Congressman Hudson noted that the current hearing would focus on legislative improvements to public safety communications, including upgrading 911 call centers, improving wireless emergency alerts, and enhancing outage reporting. These improvements are crucial for ensuring that first responders have the necessary tools to respond to emergencies and keep communities safe. The use of outdated legacy systems in some call centers poses a risk to public safety, as it can lead to uneven and non-interoperable communications.
The Next Generation 911 Act
Congressman Hudson, along with Representative Carter from Louisiana, recently introduced the Next Generation 911 Act. This legislation aims to establish a grant program at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for Next Generation 911 technology. The bill would also establish a nationwide Next Generation 911 Cybersecurity Center and a Next Generation 911 Advisory Board. The goal of the legislation is to upgrade the nation’s call centers to Next Generation 911 technology, which is an internet protocol-based system. This would provide advanced tools for both the public and first responders to use, enabling them to respond more effectively to emergencies.
Improving Wireless Emergency Alerts
The hearing also discussed the importance of improving wireless emergency alerts (WEAs). WEAs can be powerful tools for quickly disseminating warnings of dangerous weather, threats to public safety, national emergencies, and missing children. However, these alerts can only be received if a phone is in range of traditional cell service. With mobile carriers moving towards innovative technologies like satellite direct-to-device connections, it is worth exploring how this technology can be used to improve public safety communications. This could provide an additional tool for sending WEAs when outside of a terrestrial cell service network, ensuring that people in remote or disaster-affected areas can still receive critical alerts.
Supporting First Responders
Congressman Hudson emphasized the importance of supporting first responders, who put their lives on the line every day to help those in need. He noted that it is essential to provide them with the best tools to do their jobs, and that the legislation being discussed at the hearing is a crucial step in achieving this goal. By improving public safety communications, Congress can help ensure that first responders have the resources they need to respond effectively to emergencies and keep communities safe.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The hearing provided an opportunity for witnesses to discuss the legislative improvements to public safety communications and how these bills can make the country a safer place. Congressman Hudson looked forward to hearing from the witnesses and exploring how Congress can work as a partner to support the development of these critical technologies. The hearing marked an important step in the process of advancing legislation to improve public safety communications, and it is likely that the discussion will continue in the coming months. As the legislation moves forward, it is essential to ensure that the needs of first responders and the public are prioritized, and that the technologies being developed are effective, reliable, and secure.
