The Transportation Safety Advancement Group (TSAG), a multidisciplinary forum promoting technology for public safety and providing guidance to DOT’s Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office, has released the NG9-1-1 What’s Next Forum Report, a series of white papers created by stakeholders in four emergency response disciplines—law enforcement, fire-rescue, emergency medical services, and transportation—addressing the future of the Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) emergency response system.

The term NG9-1-1 refers to the migration of the emergency response system from the traditional analog to an Internet protocol-based system, which is expected to bring significant changes to the quality and amount of information available to first responders. Officials described the report as a critical step for emergency responders planning to organize, share, and use all digital data available in the next generation of 9-1-1.

According to Dia Gainor, chair of TSAG and executive director of the National Association of State EMS Officials: “The NG9-1-1 What’s Next project begins the discussion about how NG9-1-1 can help emergency response groups achieve their mission and addresses the cultural, organizational, and operational environments in which the new system will be implemented.”

For the future, the four participating groups recommended convening a national forum to continue the conversation, prioritizing data, and discussing the opportunities and challenges involved in the adoption of the updated technology.

The text of the report is available online.

As APTA updates and develops subsequent related standards, it will incorporate this information to ensure consistency.