Next Generation 9-1-1 Act

Summary#

This bill directs the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to lead and coordinate deployment of Next Generation 9-1-1 (an Internet Protocol-based 9-1-1 system). It requires the NTIA Assistant Secretary to develop a management plan, publish annual reports, and run a grant program to help States, Tribes, and regional entities implement and maintain Next Generation 9-1-1. Grants may pay for implementation, maintenance, cybersecurity, public outreach, and limited training and planning costs. The bill creates a Next Generation 9-1-1 Cybersecurity Center and a 16-member advisory board of public safety representatives to advise the Assistant Secretary. The bill sets application and certification requirements for grant recipients, requires plans that use common technical standards and address reliability and cybersecurity, and limits some grant uses (for example, it bars grant funds from supporting the First Responder Network Authority).

What it means for you#

  • Emergency communications centers and local public safety agencies could apply for federal grants to move to systems that can receive texts, pictures, video, and other digital data for 9-1-1 calls.
  • States and Tribes must name a single point of contact and submit implementation plans meeting specific technical and governance requirements to get grants.
  • The law requires planning for cybersecurity, interoperability, and sustainable funding for Next Generation 9-1-1.
  • The public may see outreach and education about how to use Next Generation 9-1-1 if grant funds are used for public education.

Expenses#

  • The bill authorizes “such sums as may be necessary” for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 and allows those amounts to remain available until spent. No specific dollar amounts are in the text.
  • Not more than 4 percent of amounts appropriated may be used for administrative purposes.
  • Grant spending limits in the bill include training costs capped at 3% of a grant for non‑Tribes and 5% for Tribes, and administrative planning costs capped at 1% for non‑Tribes and 2% for Tribes.
  • Grant funds may not be used to support First Responder Network Authority activities or to pay vendors barred from federal contracting for national security reasons.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.