Next Generation 9-1-1

Next Generation 9-1-1 (abbreviated NG9-1-1) refers to an initiative aimed at updating the 911 service infrastructure in the United States and Canada to improve public emergency communications services in a growing wireless mobile society. In addition to calling 9-1-1 from a phone, it intends to enable the public to transmit text (see Text-to-911), images, video and data to the 9-1-1 center (referred to as a public safety answering point, or PSAP). The initiative also envisions additional types of emergency communications and data transfer.^[1] This NG9-1-1 infrastructure is intended to replace the current services over time. The National Emergency Number Association (NENA) first identified the need for NG9-1-1 in 2000, and started development actions in 2003, and is nearing full definition and standards for NG9-1-1.^{[citation needed]} Since 2006, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) in the United States and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in Canada have been leading their respective initiatives, which include research and development projects aimed at advancing NG9-1-1.^[2][3] On January 24, 2013, the CRTC announced the first step toward a Canadian implementation of NG9-1-1^[4] and, in March 2016, began a consultation with the public to discuss what services should be offered, who will play a role in offering these services and how these services should be paid for.^[5] Several US states have implemented versions of NG9-1-1, as of October 2013.^{[citation needed]}