On March 11, the House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee introduced the Next Generation 9-1-1 Act of 2021 as part of the LIFT America Act (H.R. 1848). This legislation will provide $15 billion to update our nation’s 9-1-1 infrastructure, protect this infrastructure from cyber threats and ensure that first responders will be able to efficiently use Next Generation 9-1-1 technology to save lives. The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) is strongly advocating for this bill’s passage and is urging Congress to include this text in the upcoming House infrastructure package.
This bill provides the tools to effectively carry out the modernization of the nation’s 9-1-1 infrastructure. Of particular importance are the portions of this legislation that address interoperability, cybersecurity, training and consultation with first responders and other end users of the 9-1-1 system.