On Wednesday, in a statement before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler spoke about the FCC’s progress on several fronts, including public safety, which he calls a primary and essential mission of the Commission.
“I remain committed to working with Congress and other stakeholders to improve our 9-1-1 system,” Wheeler said before the committee. “In too many communities, the communications technology behind the 9-1-1 system is dangerously out of date,” he added.
Chairman Wheeler’s testimony specifically highlights the mission of Next-Generation 9-1-1 to modernize the nation’s public safety answering points. He acknowledges the Next-Gen 911 NOW Coalition, saying he is “encouraged by the recent creation of a coalition to lead a national effort to successfully implement NG911 for all states and territories by the end of 2020.”