GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY/Critical decisions

Local governments are exploring how Internet protocol (IP) telephone service can better serve residents, improve efficiency and save money. For example, some are considering moving 9-1-1 service to an IP network because it can carry more information than a traditional telephone network, including streaming video and maps, and information that can be shared across public safety agencies at all government levels. However, officials first must ensure IP-based 9-1-1 will be just as available as the current wireline network.

IP is emerging as an attractive alternative to older communication systems because numerous voice and data applications can use the same network instead of each application requiring its own proprietary infrastructure. Public safety agencies can use private, secure IP networks to share information during emergencies, and public safety answering points can use the technology to deploy virtual 9-1-1 call centers following disasters.

9-1-1 is a life-critical service held to standards of security, reliability and availability not required by other services. Traditional 9-1-1 uses a dedicated, secure and reliable wireline infrastructure typically managed by an Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) for several local governments. Rules and standards define which individuals and organizations can access the network based on hard-wired connections between users.

The level of technical sophistication and operational excellence required by a 9-1-1 network may present economic obstacles for local governments looking to include the service as part of an enterprise-wide IP upgrade. At the local level, governments can implement security protocols and operational procedures within an IP infrastructure upgrade to ensure a high level of availability. But, most likely, they do not have the resources to meet and maintain the public safety class standards of the current wireline 9-1-1 system. For example, the current network consistently is available 99.99999 percent of the time. For a local government to operate an IP-based 9-1-1 network at such levels rapidly becomes cost prohibitive.

However, local governments can switch to IP-based 9-1-1 several ways. Local officials can bring 9-1-1 in house, but the cost of keeping its availability nearly 100 percent of the time virtually eliminates IP’s key benefit. A more practical approach is to follow the current 9-1-1 model, segregating it from other IP-based applications and working with multiple governments to save money. That can be done by working with the local ILEC as it migrates its existing 9-1-1 network to IP, assuming that is part of the ILEC’s overall 9-1-1 strategy. Local public safety officials and state 9-1-1 coordinators can help determine the best alternative for each community.

When moving 9-1-1 to IP, local officials should be aware of more than 30 years of lessons learned about emergency call services. Those lessons can be applied to help ensure 9-1-1 continues to operate at the optimal public safety class level of performance.

The author is chief technology officer for Longmont, Colo.-based Intrado.