Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs, Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) continues to move forward with implementing NextGen 9-1-1.
Earlier this year, 911 Authority, LLC worked with the OEC to conduct a statewide 9-1-1 system assessment to gather key information from public safety answering points (PSAPs) to determine their readiness to implement NexGen 9-1-1 statewide. The draft report will be presented to the 9-1-1 Subcommittee and Interoperability Council for review and will then be available for the public and decision makers across the state.
OEC has also been working with the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) on the release of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a statewide ESInet system. The ESInet system is a statewide network which will interconnect PSAPs to implement NextGen 9-1-1.
The funding received in this biennium will enable DMA to hire consultants to perform a GIS gap analysis and a PSAP consolidation study to further inform the 9-1-1 Subcommittee and the OEC staff about the needs and costs for the implementation of NextGen 9-1-1 in the state.
OEC is also waiting to receive notification for a federal grant award to assist with NextGen 9-1-1 equipment. Last year, the OEC submitted a grant application for the 911 Grant Program which is issued by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Wisconsin is expected to receive a minimum of $2.9 million which will be used to help local PSAPs purchase needed equipment to implement NextGen 9-1-1. Under the grant guidance, funding will need to be spent by March 2022.