Texas publishes NG 911 master plan

The Texas Commission on State Emergency Communications has released its Next Generation 911 master plan. Jeff Pulver should be pretty happy with it.

In the executive summary, the Commission notes that the current 911 system is approaching the end of its "useful life" and that there's a patchwork of systems that deliver 911 call and location data for landline voice, landline TTY/TDD, wireless/cellular voice, and VoIP to the central dispatch Public Safety Answer Point (PSAP). Adding new technologies requires "substantial" system modification.

Texas's master plan will start with the construction of IP networks to and between PSAPs, followed by rolling out applications that provide next generation functionality. The state government will likely take on more responsibility as the system matures; traditionally localized PSAPs have called the shots. Implementing the new system will require lot of money, planning and cooperation between all the stakeholders.

VoIP pundit Jeff Pulver has often been on the soap box calling for a migration to next generation 911 services [1], so he should welcome this news from the Lone Star State

For more:
- Government Technology reports. Post [2].
- Read the 411 on the Texas 911 here.  PDF [3]

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