The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) awarded $3.15 million to the Critical Infrastructure Resilience Institute at the University of Illinois to develop Next Generation 911 interoperability testing.
NG911 systems allow for interconnection among wider ranges of public and private networks than their predecessors, incorporating wireless networks, the Internet and regular phone networks. CIRI will develop processes to test voice, video and data solutions for these systems, along with software and other tools needed.
“NG911 brings many essential enhancements to the critical 9-1-1 emergency service, such as improved call routing and processing, the capability to convey voice, location, video, text and caller/incident information. 911 agencies can utilize equipment from multiple vendors, and different vendors may be used within the same community or region,” Dana Saft, S&T Office of University Programs (OUP) program manager, said. “Ensuring interoperability is critical for the success of Next Gen 911 operations. The NG911 Interoperability Testing Program project was created to address that need.”
CIRI has worked with DHS since the project began in 2020. Its first phase created a framework for testing, including technical, governance and sustainability aspects. The second took on operational aspects of testing and provided funding for construction and accrediting of a testbed lab. This latest award represents the third phase, which will last several years.
For this, S&T and CIRI will work together to develop the methods, procedures and tools needed for interoperability testing, including creation of a test code for system components and functional elements. They will also complete ISO 17025 certification so the lab can be certified under the DHS Compliance Assurance Program (CAP) and validate that test lab through conformance and end-to-end testing, while continuing test facility operations. There will be a cybersecurity assessment for both the lab and the test systems and recommendations provided for the Emergency Communications Cybersecurity Center, among other items.