What is Next Generation 911?
Next Generation 911 (NG911) is a digital, internet protocol (IP)-based system replacing the analog 911 infrastructure that has been in place for decades. Along with the digital transfer of information, NG911 utilizes geographic information systems (GIS) to help emergency dispatchers provide a location where the emergency call is taking place.
An analog system uses continuous electrical signals, such as voltage or current, sent over telephone wires to transmit data. A digital system uses a discrete, binary system (0s and 1s) to store and transmit information. An analog system uses continuous signals that are susceptible to data loss during transmission because of the physical aspect of transmitting the information from one source to the receiving source. A digital system using a discrete system is less likely to lose information because it is sending and receiving a fixed amount of data.
NG911, therefore, uses a digital system that bolsters the 911 system to overcome the drawbacks of an analog system. It enhances the capacity of emergency number services to create a faster and more resilient system that allows voice, photos, videos, and text messages to be sent from the public to the 911 network seamlessly, rather than relying on the location of specific phone numbers when calling a public safety answering point (PSAP).
A PSAP is the location where 911 emergency calls are received and processed and then dispatched to the appropriate emergency services. PSAPs have historically processed only analog systems. However, with newer technology and equipment, a PSAP is able to process the digital information that NG911 utilizes. That allows a person in an emergency situation to send voice and video phone calls, text messages, photos, or videos.
Next Generation 911 in Kansas
The Kansas State 911 Board (Board) was created by the Kansas 911 Act found in KSA 12-5362 et seq. It is tasked with monitoring the delivery of 911 services and developing strategies for future enhancement to the 911 system. The Board replaced the Kansas 911 Coordinating Council in 2024.
In 2012, the U.S. Congress created the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) as an independent authority within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to provide emergency responders with a nationwide, high-speed, wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety use. In November 2013, Kansas began researching how to implement a NG911 system in Kansas. FirstNet awarded the federal contract to AT&T to implement this system in April 2014. FirstNet would provide a plan for each of the 50 states to build a single, national, integrated network dedicated to public safety communications.
Kansas was in the process of data collection to understand how opting into the FirstNet services would impact Kansas financially and the state’s 911 systems’ ability to respond to emergency calls. This included gathering GIS data, imagery acquisition for the NG911 system, and how to incorporate PSAPs into this new system. The plan for Kansas was expected to be sent to the Governor in 2017 to understand how Kansas would be able to transition to NG911 services through FirstNet.
When Kansas opted into the FirstNet plan on August 15, 2017, under then-Governor Brownback, Kansas became one of the first adopters of NG911 services.
By Walter Schmidt and Nicole Bergman.
See Infrastructure and Security for more.