IAFC Urges for Passage of Next-Generation 9-1-1 Bill

The International Association of Fire Chiefs is urging congress to pass the Next Generation 9-1-1 Act of 2021, which will provide $15 billion to update the infrastructure of the country's emergency network.

The legislation is part of LIFT America Act, and it was introduced in the House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee on March 11.The IAFC is advocating its passage for some of the following reasons:

• It provides the tools to effectively carry out the modernization of the country's 9-1-1 infrastructure, addressing interoperability, cybersecurity, training and consultation with first responders and other 9-1-1 system end users.
• It defines "commonly accepted standards" for interoperability, which ensures all requests for emergency assistance, no matter the jurisdiction, will include the delivery and sharing of voice, video, text and other emergency services requests among Emergency Communications Centers and first responders.
• As cyberattacks become more frequent and attackers become more varied and sophisticated, it is critical that Next Generation 9-1-1 infrastructure be properly protected. The Nationwide Next Generation 9-1-1 Security Operations Center established by this bill will provide this needed protection. This center will carry out numerous functions that are essential to securing Next Generation 9-1-1 infrastructure such as identifying cybercriminals, vetting third parties that connect to the 9-1-1 system, providing local operations with layered security, and sharing information and plans to mitigate and respond to cyber-attacks.

The IAFC said it will continue to work with lawmakers to see that this bill is passed.

Go to the International Association of Fire Chiefs' website for more information about the Next Generation 9-1-1 Act of 2021.