Next-Generation 911 (NG911) represents a monumental leap forward in emergency communication capabilities. 

-Michael Fowler

Austin resident Sarah Lewis recently found herself in a dire emergency. Home alone, she suffered a severe allergic reaction to food and suddenly couldn’t speak or breathe properly. Unable to make a regular voice call, she quickly texted 911, typing in her address and a brief description of her crisis. Thanks to Austin’s Next-Generation 911 (NG911) system, the dispatcher at the Emergency Communications Center immediately received her distress message and was able to direct an ambulance to Sarah’s precise location. First responders reached Sarah within minutes, administered life-saving treatment, and ensured her swift recovery.  

Next-Generation 911, or NG911, is an upgrade to the existing 911 emergency communication infrastructure. It replaces outdated analog systems with a digital, Internet Protocol (IP)-based network. This shift allows for the integration of multiple communication methods—voice, text, images, and video–into a single system. Here’s a closer look at the some of the features of NG911: 

Next-Generation 911 (NG911) is a groundbreaking advancement in emergency communication systems. It represents a transformative shift from traditional 911 services, offering emergency response that is faster, more efficient, and tailored to your specific needs in a time of crisis.  

What is NG911? How Is IT Different from Older 911 System? 

      • Multimedia Capability: NG911 allows people to send text messages, photos, and videos directly to emergency dispatch centers. This multimedia capability is especially valuable when describing accidents or incidents where words alone may not suffice. 

      • Enhanced Location Information: NG911 provides much more precise location data than previous systems; it can pinpoint a caller’s location using GPS coordinates or Wi-Fi signals, ensuring that help arrives at the right place, even if the caller is unsure of their location. 

      • Improved Reliability and Redundancy: NG911 systems have built-in measures for redundancy and reliability, ensuring that emergency services remain accessible during natural disasters or network failures and reducing the risk of communication breakdowns at critical moments. 

      • Interconnectedness: NG911 integrates with other public safety systems, such as computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and first-responder communications. This interconnectedness enhances collaboration among emergency services, leading to better-coordinated responses.  


    The Advantages of Next-Generation 911 

    The new features and capabilities of NG911 offer significant advantages over traditional 911 systems, including: 

        1. Faster Response Times: One of the most crucial benefits of NG911 is the potential for shorter response times. With precise location data and the ability to send multimedia information, dispatchers can make quicker and more informed decisions, leading to swifter emergency responses. This can be especially critical in situations like accidents or medical emergencies. 

          1. Accessibility for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: NG911 makes emergency services more accessible to individuals with hearing impairments. Text messages and video calls allow the deaf and hard-of-hearing community to communicate effectively with dispatchers, ensuring they receive timely assistance during emergencies. 

            1. Enhanced Situational Awareness: Including multimedia features like images and videos provides dispatchers with a clearer picture of the situation at hand. This improved situational awareness allows them to allocate resources more effectively, better preparing first responders for what they might encounter. 

              1. Reduced Language Barriers: In multicultural societies, language barriers can impede effective communication during emergencies. NG911’s text capabilities help overcome this obstacle, as individuals can send messages in their preferred language, ensuring that vital information is conveyed accurately. 

                1. Support for Vulnerable Populations: NG911 is a boon for older people and individuals with cognitive impairments. With the ability to send location data, caregivers and family members can quickly request help for their loved ones, even if they cannot make a traditional voice call. 

                  1. Adaptability to Future Technologies: NG911 is designed to be adaptable and future-proof. As new communication technologies emerge, the NG911 infrastructure can easily incorporate them, ensuring emergency services remain at the forefront of technological innovation. 

                    1. Reaching Emergency Services From Your Cellphone: In today’s digital world, many instinctively reach for their smartphones during emergencies. NG911 acknowledges this trend and provides a means for individuals to connect with emergency services using the devices they carry everywhere. NG911 allows your phone’s emergency call function to transmit and receive over any other carrier’s tower that is nearby, vastly increasing the coverage area for emergency cellular messages. 

                  In one harrowing incident that vividly demonstrates the life-saving potential of this feature, a distressed hiker found himself stranded deep within a remote wilderness area, far removed from any of his cellphone carrier’s towers. With no voice signal available, the stranded hiker sent a text message through NG911—which automatically captured his precise GPS coordinates—and described his dire situation. This information enabled emergency responders to pinpoint the hiker’s location and immediately dispatch a rescue team. The stranded hiker was rescued in a matter of hours, averting a potentially life-threatening ordeal. This example underscores the ways NG911 is reshaping the landscape of emergency response and ensuring that help is accessible even in the most remote areas and challenging circumstances.

                  Next-Generation 911 (NG911) represents a monumental leap forward in emergency communication systems. The advantages of NG911, including faster response times, accessibility for hard of hearing, enhanced situational awareness, and adaptability to future technologies, are poised to revolutionize the way society handles emergencies. 

                  As NG911 continues to roll out nationwide, it is vital that communities ensure their emergency services are effectively trained and equipped to take maximum advantages of its features. NG911 has the potential to save lives, reduce injuries, and minimize property damage, but its success hinges on a collaborative effort between government agencies, telecommunications providers, and the general public.