The Alliance for Telecommunication Industry Solutions Network Reliability Steering Committee, in conjunction with the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International, the National Association of State 911 Administrators, and the National Emergency Number Association, today announced the completion of recommendations to improve carrier notifications to public safety answering points (PSAPs) in the event of service outages.
“The document is specifically intended to guide providers of all types that report service impacting outages to the PSAP community. In addition, this effort is intended to educate the public safety community on the types of outages that may occur and the information that may be available from the provider,” according to an ATIS news release. “The goal was to create a template to deliver the necessary information that is consistent in nature to ease consumption by the PSAP while providing information that is pertinent and actionable. A separate work effort will include Best Practices for collecting, managing, and utilizing PSAP and carrier contact information to ensure timely delivery of outage-related information.”
“This resource presents consensus-driven expert insight to help service providers and Public Safety organizations communicate critical information in the rare event that an outage occurs,” said ATIS President and Chief Executive Officer Susan Miller. “The template and definitions contained within are the product of a working group that includes representation from carriers, third party providers, 9-1-1 industry associations, and the PSAP community.”
“APCO is pleased to have collaborated with industry representatives and colleagues in public safety to achieve a consensus-based resource for wireless service outage notifications,” said APCO Executive Director and CEO Derek Poarch. “This effort will standardize the content and presentation of outage reports in a manner that will greatly benefit PSAPs. Public safety telecommunicators will receive timely, easily understood, and actionable information to assist them with carrying out their life-saving missions.”
“NASNA is pleased to have had the opportunity to work alongside APCO, NENA and the members of the ATIS Network Reliability Steering Committee to help improve the outage notification process,” said NASNA Executive Director Evelyn Bailey. “The new process standardizes the format of outage notifications and gives 9-1-1 authorities and PSAPs clear information so that they know what, if anything, they need to do.”
“NENA is enthused at these significant improvements to the wireless service outage notification process and at the collaborative spirit of the public safety and industry organizations involved,” said NENA CEO Brian Fontes. “This effort gives PSAPs and telecommunicators access to clear, standardized information on service outages; a result that will undoubtedly save lives and improve 9-1-1.”- Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com
Courtesy TRDaily