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NENA Releases New Version of the i3 Standard for Next Generation 9-1-1

National Emergency Number Association • July 15, 2021
North America’s leading 9-1-1 standards-development body today approved a landmark new version of its Next Generation 9-1-1 standard, a move that will accelerate the transition to smarter, faster, and more resilient emergency response. Version 3 of NENA's i3 Standard for Next Generation 9-1-1 includes key updates to NG9-1-1 infrastructure, paving the way for interoperability on a national and international scale.

“This is a landmark moment in the evolution of NG9-1-1,” said Gary Bell, ENP, President of NENA. “The public-safety community and the tech industry now have the most up-to-date, comprehensive, consensus-driven, open standard for NG9-1-1. This will no doubt hasten and strengthen our push to see NG9-1-1 systems, services, and products deployed coast to coast.”

NENA’s family of NG9-1-1 standards - with i3 serving as the keystone - enables data-rich, secure, IP-based communications from the public, through 9-1-1, to every field responder. The new version will serve as the foundation of a 21st Century, broadband-based 9-1-1 ecosystem. Version 3 changes include:

  • New REST/JSON architecture, following modern best practices for interface design;
  • Cybersecurity improvements;
  • Major updates to call bridging;
  • Discrepancy Reports;
  • Outgoing Call Interface Function;
  • Blind transfer support;
  • Updates to handle novel call types (including non-interactive calls and Advanced Automatic Crash Notifications); and
  • Harmonization with European specifications.
Beyond these changes, the new version of i3 includes many more feature improvements and updates. Also, NENA has made Version 3 APIs (based on the Open API specification) available in this code repository.

Brian Rosen, Co-Chair of the i3 Architecture Working Group, said, “i3 Version 3 represents the culmination of several years of effort by a large group of experts to produce a complete and interoperable specification implementable by all 9-1-1 authorities and vendors. It adds new functionality requested by PSAPs and updates the specifications for software-application interfaces. i3v3 is undoubtedly the new standard for state and local NG9-1-1 RFPs, and vendors will now be able to upgrade their implementations with greater confidence.”

i3 is an American National Standard candidate, and in the coming weeks NENA expects full ANSI approval, confirming that development of the standard complied with all ANSI Essential Requirements.

NENA has been developing non-proprietary, consensus-based, universally-used, and universally-recognized 9-1-1 standards for more than thirty years. NENA’s more than 1,000 volunteers work an estimated 33,000 hours annually to develop, update, and manage nearly two-hundred operational and technical standards for E9-1-1 and NG9-1-1. NENA is an ANSI-accredited standards-development organization; the association welcomes all interested parties to join its working groups.

“In the midst of a pandemic that disrupted every facet of our lives, NENA volunteers worked tirelessly to develop and publish i3 Version 3 through the rigorous, consensus-based processes that NENA is known for,” said Bell. “We cannot applaud them enough for their dedication to public safety and NG9-1-1.”
A police officer is holding a microphone in his pocket.

Homeland Security, Criminal Justice Grant Funding Available for East Texas Public Safety Projects

By East Texas Council of Governments • December 19, 2024
State agencies, local governments, nonprofit organizations, universities or colleges, and federally recognized Native American tribes can soon apply for FY 2026 grant funds from the Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office , State Homeland Security Grant Program and Criminal Justice division. New and continuing applicants in ETCOG’s fourteen (14) county region are invited to attend FREE grant application workshops hosted by the ETCOG Public Safety division . Workshops for each grant category to be held virtually from December 18, 2024, through February 13, 2025. Grant funding will be available for the following programs: Homeland Security State Homeland Security Program – Regular Projects (SHSP-R) Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities (LETPA) Criminal Justice General Victim Assistance Direct Services Program (VOCA) Violence Against Women Justice and Training Program (VAWA) Juvenile Justice & Truancy Prevention Grant Program (SF-JJTP) Criminal Justice Program (DJ-JAG) “The goal is to improve public safety, support victims of crime, and assist jurisdictions by filling gaps in the region via funding that promotes innovative solutions to regional problems,” said ETCOG’s Public Safety Director, Stephanie Heffner. “We help applicants understand what needs to go into their grant applications and what they have to track once they receive funding from the state so we can successfully bring public safety projects to East Texas.” Workshops for Homeland Security will be held on the following dates: Wednesday, December 18, 2024 - 10:00 AM Wednesday, January 1, 2025 - 10:00 AM Wednesday, January 8, 2025 - 10:00 AM Wednesday, January 15, 2025 - 10:00 AM Wednesday, January 22, 2025 - 10:00 AM Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - 10:00 AM Wednesday, February 5, 2025 - 10:00 AM Workshops for Criminal Justice will be held on the following dates: Monday, January 7, 2025 - 2:00 PM Wednesday, January 15, 2025 - 10:00 AM Thursday, January 23, 2025 - 2:30 PM Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - 2:00 PM Workshops are mandatory if you plan to apply for funding. To participate in a virtual workshop for Homeland Security, visit www.pineywoods911.com/homeland-security . To participate in a virtual workshop for Criminal Justice, visit www.pineywoods911.com/criminal-justice .
A woman in a police uniform is standing in a park.

$3.4M in Public Safety Grants Approved for East Texas Region

By ETCOG Public Safety • December 17, 2024
The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) announces $3.4 million in grants from the Governor's Public Safety Office awarded to East Texas jurisdictions and nonprofits.
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