I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2760 
To further deployment of Next Generation 9–1–1 to enhance and upgrade 
the 9–1–1 systems of the United States, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 15, 2019 
Ms. ESHOO (for herself and Mr. SHIMKUS) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To further deployment of Next Generation 9–1–1 to enhance 
and upgrade the 9–1–1 systems of the United States, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Next Generation 9– 
1–1 Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) The 9–1–1 systems of the United States, 
while a model for the entire world, lack the advanced 
functionality, interoperability, and capabilities that 
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come with the adoption of new digital communica-
tions technologies. 
(2) 
Communications 
technologies 
currently 
available to the public, including first responders 
and other public safety personnel, have substantially 
outpaced the legacy communications technologies 
still used by most emergency communications cen-
ters in the 9–1–1 systems of the United States. 
(3) This lack of modern technology, when cou-
pled with other challenges, is impacting the ability of 
the 9–1–1 systems of the United States to efficiently 
and effectively provide responses to emergencies. 
(4) Modernizing the 9–1–1 systems of the 
United States to incorporate the new and evolving 
capabilities of broadband voice and data communica-
tions is essential for the safety and security of the 
public, including first responders and other public 
safety personnel. 
(5) Efforts to modernize the 9–1–1 systems of 
the United States to date, while laudable and impor-
tant, have been limited due to a lack of funding and 
inconsistent or unclear policies related to the govern-
ance, deployment, and operations of Next Genera-
tion 9–1–1. 
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(6) A nationwide strategy for Next Generation 
9–1–1 has become essential to help guide the transi-
tion and create a common framework for implemen-
tation of Next Generation 9–1–1 while preserving 
State, regional, and local control over the governance 
and technology choices of the 9–1–1 systems of the 
United States. 
(7) Accelerated implementation of Next Genera-
tion 9–1–1 will— 
(A) increase compatibility with emerging 
communications trends; 
(B) enhance the flexibility, reliability, and 
survivability of the 9–1–1 systems of the United 
States during major incidents; 
(C) improve emergency response for the 
public, including first responders and other 
public safety personnel; 
(D) promote the interoperability of the 9– 
1–1 systems of the United States with emer-
gency response providers including users of the 
Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network 
being deployed by the First Responder Network 
Authority; and 
(E) increase the cost effectiveness of oper-
ating the 9–1–1 systems of the United States. 
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SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the 9–1–1 professionals in the United 
States perform important and lifesaving work every 
day, and need the tools and communications tech-
nologies to perform the work effectively in a world 
with digital communications technologies; 
(2) the transition from the legacy communica-
tions technologies used in the 9–1–1 systems of the 
United States to Next Generation 9–1–1 is a na-
tional priority and a national imperative; 
(3) the United States should complete the tran-
sition described in paragraph (2) as soon as prac-
ticable; 
(4) the United States should develop a nation-
wide framework that facilitates cooperation among 
Federal, State, and local officials on deployment of 
Next Generation 9–1–1 in order to meet that goal; 
(5) the term ‘‘Public Safety Answering Point’’ 
becomes outdated in a broadband environment and 
9–1–1 centers are increasingly and appropriately 
being referred to as emergency communications cen-
ters; and 
(6) 9–1–1 authorities and emergency commu-
nications centers should have sufficient resources to 
implement Next Generation 9–1–1, including re-
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sources to support associated geographic information 
systems (commonly known as ‘‘GIS’’), and cyberse-
curity measures. 
SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
It is the policy of the United States that— 
(1) Next Generation 9–1–1 should be techno-
logically and competitively neutral; 
(2) Next Generation 9–1–1 should be interoper-
able; 
(3) the governance and control of the 9–1–1 
systems of the United States, including Next Gen-
eration 9–1–1, should remain at the State, regional, 
and local level; and 
(4) individuals in the United States should re-
ceive information on how to best utilize Next Gen-
eration 9–1–1 and on its capabilities and usefulness. 
SEC. 5. COORDINATION OF NEXT GENERATION 9–1–1 IMPLE-
MENTATION. 
Part C of title I of the National Telecommunications 
and Information Administration Organization Act (47 
U.S.C. 901 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
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‘‘SEC. 159. COORDINATION OF NEXT GENERATION 9–1–1 IM-
PLEMENTATION. 
‘‘(a) ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS OF 9–1–1 IMPLEMEN-
TATION COORDINATION OFFICE.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—The Office shall implement 
the provisions of this section. 
‘‘(2) MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 
‘‘(A) DEVELOPMENT.—The Assistant Sec-
retary and the Administrator shall develop and 
may modify a management plan for the grant 
program established under this section, includ-
ing by developing— 
‘‘(i) plans related to the organiza-
tional structure of such program; and 
‘‘(ii) funding profiles for each fiscal 
year of the duration of such program. 
‘‘(B) SUBMISSION
TO
CONGRESS.—Not 
later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this section or 90 days after the date 
on which the plan is modified, as applicable, the 
Assistant Secretary and the Administrator shall 
submit the management plan developed under 
subparagraph (A) to— 
‘‘(i) the Committees on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and Appro-
priations of the Senate; and 
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‘‘(ii) the Committees on Energy and 
Commerce and Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives. 
‘‘(3) PURPOSE OF OFFICE.—The Office shall— 
‘‘(A) take actions, in concert with coordi-
nators designated in accordance with subsection 
(b)(3)(A)(ii), to improve coordination and com-
munication with respect to the implementation 
of Next Generation 9–1–1; 
‘‘(B) develop, collect, and disseminate in-
formation concerning practices, procedures, and 
technology used in the implementation of Next 
Generation 9–1–1; 
‘‘(C) advise and assist eligible entities in 
the preparation of implementation plans re-
quired under subsection (b)(3)(A)(iii); 
‘‘(D) receive, review, and recommend the 
approval or disapproval of applications for 
grants under subsection (b); and 
‘‘(E) oversee the use of funds provided by 
such grants in fulfilling such implementation 
plans. 
‘‘(4) REPORTS.—The Assistant Secretary and 
the Administrator shall provide an annual report to 
Congress by the first day of October of each year on 
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‘‘(ii) such costs are reasonable and 
necessary and do not exceed 5 percent of 
the total grant award. 
‘‘(2) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—The Federal 
share of the cost of a project eligible for a grant 
under this section shall not exceed 80 percent. 
‘‘(3) COORDINATION REQUIRED.—In providing 
grants under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary 
and the Administrator shall require an eligible entity 
to certify in its application that— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an eligible entity that 
is a State, the entity— 
‘‘(i) has coordinated the application 
with the emergency communications cen-
ters located within the jurisdiction of such 
entity; 
‘‘(ii) has designated a single officer or 
governmental body to serve as the State 
point of contact to coordinate the imple-
mentation of Next Generation 9–1–1 for 
that State, except that such designation 
need not vest such coordinator with direct 
legal authority to implement Next Genera-
tion 9–1–1 or to manage emergency com-
munications operations; and 
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‘‘(iii) has developed and submitted a 
State plan for the coordination and imple-
mentation of Next Generation 9–1–1 
that— 
‘‘(I) ensures interoperability by 
requiring the use of commonly accept-
ed standards; 
‘‘(II) enables emergency commu-
nications centers to process, analyze, 
and store multimedia, data, and other 
information; 
‘‘(III) incorporates the use of ef-
fective cybersecurity resources; 
‘‘(IV) uses open and competitive 
request for proposal processes, or the 
applicable State equivalent, for de-
ployment of Next Generation 9–1–1; 
‘‘(V) includes input from relevant 
emergency communications centers, 
regional authorities, local authorities, 
and Tribal authorities; and 
‘‘(VI) includes a governance body 
or bodies, either by creation of new or 
use of existing body or bodies, for the 
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development and deployment of Next 
Generation 9–1–1 that— 
‘‘(aa) 
includes 
relevant 
stakeholders; and 
‘‘(bb) consults and coordi-
nates with the State point of con-
tact required by clause (ii); or 
‘‘(B) in the case of an eligible entity that 
is not a State, the entity has complied with 
clauses (i) and (iii) of subparagraph (A), and 
the State in which the entity is located has 
complied with clause (ii) of such subparagraph. 
‘‘(4) CRITERIA.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 9 
months after the date of enactment of this sec-
tion, the Assistant Secretary and the Adminis-
trator shall issue regulations, after providing 
the public with notice and an opportunity to 
comment, prescribing the criteria for selection 
for grants under this section. 
‘‘(B) 
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
criteria 
shall— 
‘‘(i) include performance requirements 
and a schedule for completion of any 
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project to be financed by a grant under 
this section; and 
‘‘(ii) specifically permit regional or 
multi-State applications for funds. 
‘‘(C) UPDATES.—The Assistant Secretary 
and the Administrator shall update such regula-
tions as necessary. 
‘‘(5) GRANT CERTIFICATIONS.—Each applicant 
for a grant under this section shall certify to the As-
sistant Secretary and the Administrator at the time 
of application, and each applicant that receives such 
a grant shall certify to the Assistant Secretary and 
the Administrator annually thereafter during any pe-
riod of time the funds from the grant are available 
to the applicant, that— 
‘‘(A) no portion of any designated 9–1–1 
charges imposed by a State or other taxing ju-
risdiction within which the applicant is located 
are being obligated or expended for any purpose 
other than the purposes for which such charges 
are designated or presented during the period 
beginning 180 days immediately preceding the 
date on which the application was filed and con-
tinuing through the period of time during which 
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the funds from the grant are available to the 
applicant; 
‘‘(B) any funds received by the applicant 
will be used to support deployment of Next 
Generation 9–1–1 that ensures interoperability 
by requiring the use of commonly accepted 
standards; 
‘‘(C) the State in which the applicant re-
sides has established, or has committed to es-
tablish no later than 3 years following the date 
on which the funds are distributed to the appli-
cant, a sustainable funding mechanism for Next 
Generation 9–1–1 to be deployed pursuant to 
the grant; 
‘‘(D) the applicant will promote interoper-
ability between Next Generation 9–1–1 emer-
gency communications centers and emergency 
response providers including users of the na-
tionwide public safety broadband network im-
plemented by the First Responder Network Au-
thority; 
‘‘(E) the applicant has or will take steps to 
coordinate with adjoining States to establish 
and maintain Next Generation 9–1–1; and 
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‘‘(F) the applicant has developed a plan for 
public outreach and education on how to best 
use Next Generation 9–1–1 and on its capabili-
ties and usefulness. 
‘‘(6) CONDITION
OF
GRANT.—Each applicant 
for a grant under this section shall agree, as a con-
dition of receipt of the grant, that if the State or 
other taxing jurisdiction within which the applicant 
is located, during any period of time during which 
the funds from the grant are available to the appli-
cant, fails to comply with the certifications required 
under paragraph (5), all of the funds from such 
grant shall be returned to the Office. 
‘‘(7) PENALTY FOR PROVIDING FALSE INFOR-
MATION.—Any applicant that provides a certification 
under paragraph (5) knowing that the information 
provided in the certification was false shall— 
‘‘(A) not be eligible to receive the grant 
under this subsection; 
‘‘(B) return any grant awarded under this 
subsection during the time that the certification 
was not valid; and 
‘‘(C) not be eligible to receive any subse-
quent grants under this subsection. 
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