The National 911 Program partnered with the National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA) to create a resource to help state and local authorities understand how next-generation 9-1-1 (NG 9-1-1) and the nationwide public-safety broadband network governed by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), are similar, different and how they can work together to improve emergency communication.

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“NG911 & FirstNet Guide for State and Local Authorities” will help local authorities understand the difference between NG 9-1-1 and FirstNet as decisions are made about the future of emergency communications. The short, visual report shares critical information about the efforts to implement NG 9-1-1 at the local and state level, and coordinate with FirstNet at the national level.

"It is imperative to the 9-1-1 community, first responders and the public that these two systems work together seamlessly,” said Laurie Flaherty, coordinator of the National 911 Program. “They are two parts of the whole, and are both critical in bringing 9-1-1 into the digital age."

Included in the 16-page brochure is:
• A summary of the benefits and risks of NG911 and FirstNet
• An overview of the differenced between the two systems
• An infographic detailing how the systems will work together
• A look into the future of NG911 capabilities
•Ways state and local leaders can support the transition to NG 911

This resource will help public-safety and 9-1-1 leaders ensure that stakeholders are informed about the vital role that NG 9-1-1 will play in short- and long-term decisions. The resource is available to view and download on 911.gov.

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