Program Manager Update

Hello and welcome to summer,

I just returned from the NENA national conference and was struck by how NG-911 is coming into clear vision. We see real integration between various applications and more data than ever is collected, analyzed and stored. Our traditionally closed 9-1-1 systems need to be open to the big, bad Internet and Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) was the buzzword of the week.

However, coupled with all of this cool technology is the realization our most important asset is still our people. Telecommunicators provide the lifeline between people calling for help on the worst day of their lives with first responders who work tirelessly to make that day better. It was a stark reminder we cannot move blindly forward with technology simply for technology sake. We must consider the impact on our people and work to ensure the technology enhances, rather than detracts from the mission we all carry out.

The pace of change will continue to increase and this change is reflected in our modernization efforts. The first Requests for Proposal responses have been received and are currently being reviewed, with awards expected in late summer. These initial efforts are laying the groundwork for all that will be coming as we move King County forward into the NG-911 world.

Financial 

The E911 Program Office recently completed financial monitoring for the 2017-2018 biennium from Q1/2019 forecast to 2024. The objective is to gain a shared understanding of the financial health of the 9-1-1 fund.

Much effort has been applied to reducing costs wherever possible by reviewing existing contracts, vendor accounts and creating operational efficiencies. These efforts have yielded a savings of over $500K thus far.

However, there remains a risk to the sustainability of the fund. New technology is expensive but is required to enable the E911 systems to run smoothly and without fail. Operating costs continue to rise while revenue trend is nominally increasing year over year. With the current trend, core operating costs outpace revenues and will continue to worsen if nothing is done.

Plans are in place to deal with this inevitability. Further cost reductions are being examined and multiple revenue options explored. The E911 Program Office and their stakeholders are committed to solve these issues and risks.

The Growth of Technology &

How to understand it

2000: The challenge of E-911 in the digital environment was how to include the caller’s phone number and location with the call. The answer became twofold. First, use the current telephone network to pass the phone number (Automatic Number Identification-ANI). Second, implement infrastructure outside the telephone network to store and retrieve location (Automatic Location Identification-ALI) records. You carry a small personal item with you on the plane, and check the rest of your luggage.  When you arrive at your destination you must retrieve your checked luggage.

A problem is there may still be some old infrastructure along the way causing delays or limiting information delivery. Due to the airport size of your island paradise, you are required to transfer to a smaller plane to get to your final destination. When you arrive at your transfer point, you find the second plane is not able to carry all your luggage so it has to go by ferry. This causes delays and frustration. This is the same when having to change technologies mid-stream, the benefit of the new technology is lost and there can be delays in delivering the necessary data. Until all of the systems are upgraded, the whole system is not yet capable of reaching its full functional and efficient potential.

Just like the internet has led to revolutions in retail, travel and many other aspects of daily life, NG911 is the foundation that will allow the features of tomorrow to be delivered. Once the NG911 infrastructure implementation is complete, the benefits and possibilities can be realized. Now time to enjoy your vacation.

Legislation and 9-1-1

The 105-day Washington State Legislative session ended April 28^th and there were several items of interest for 9-1-1:

ESSB 5272 passed allowing a local sales and use tax for public communications, not to exceed 2/10’s of 1 percent. The previous law was “equal to 1/10 of 1 percent”. This new legislation not only increases the tax, it allows more flexibility to determine the actual amount needed.

HB 1258 (2018) - The Travis Alert Act assesses the resources necessary to improve the E-911 program so information pertaining to an individual’s disability or special need can be available to first responders before they arrive on scene of an emergency.

HB 2143 (2019) provided funding to support HB 1258 (2018), directing the Military Department to contract with a vendor to include, as part of the E-911 emergency alert system, the ability to immediately display that a person with a disability may be present at the scene of an emergency. Due to time constraints in 2019, this bill will be worked in the 2020 session.

ESHB 1109 budget requires $100k of the E911 account to develop a collaborative group with representatives from counties, PSAPs and first responder organizations to submit a report on the 911 system by 10/1/2020. The report must include:

Actual cost per fiscal year to operate and maintain the 911 system including, but not limited to, the ESInet, call handling equipment, personnel costs, facility costs, contractual costs, administrative costs, legal fees;

The difference between the actual state and local costs and current state and local 911 funding;

Potential cost-savings and efficiencies through the consolidation of equipment, regionalization of services or merging of facilities, positive and negative impacts on the public, legal or contractual restrictions, and appropriate actions to alleviate these constraints.