NENA stands for National Emergency Number Association. NENA improves 9-1-1 through research, standards development, training, education, outreach, and advocacy. Their vision is a public made safer and more secure through universally-available state-of-the-art 9-1-1 systems and trained 9-1-1 professionals.
APCO stands for the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials. Their mission is to provide complete public safety communications expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach to benefit their members and the public.
Developed to ensure NG911 interoperability across all NG911 systems, this body exists to clarify the NG911 i3 standard and make conformance testing available.
The NG9-1-1 Interoperability Oversight Commission (NIOC) is the independent oversight governance body for the NG9-1-1 Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Forest Guide, and other technical interoperability services key necessary for interoperability and security in NG9-1-1 in North America and beyond. These services are required under standards promulgated by NENA: The 9-1-1 Association and the Internet Engineering Task Force IETF. NIOC sets the rules and policy for operating these services and performs oversight for their day-to-day operation, including compliance and finances.
On May 15, 2015, Governor Abbott signed Senate Bill 788, otherwise known as Kari's Law. The law represents the culmination of efforts in the aftermath of the murder of Kari Hunt in a motel room in Marshall, Texas. Ms. Hunt's 9-year-old daughter tried to call 9-1-1 for help four times from the motel room phone. The call never went through because she did not know to first dial \"9\" for an outbound line before dialing 9-1-1. On March 1, 2016, the Commission on State Emergency Communications Rule 251.16 (Direct Access to 9-1-1 Service) was adopted to implement Kari's Law.
For a multi-line telephone system that provides outbound dialing, Kari's Law requires direct access to 9-1-1 service without the user having to first dial an initial number, digit, prefix or other access number or code before dialing 9-1-1. For more information about Kari's Law, visit the website by clicking the button below.
The National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA) is the voice of the states on public policy issues impacting 911. State 911 leaders' expertise can assist industry associations, public policymakers, the private sector, and emergency communications professionals at all levels of government as they address complex issues surrounding the evolution of emergency communications.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. An independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress, the Commission is the federal agency responsible for implementing and enforcing America's communications law and regulations.