Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Richard Hudson (R-NC) introduced the Next Generation 911 Act of 2023 to speed federal efforts to modernize the nation’s aging 911 systems.
“Communications have changed dramatically since the first 911 call was placed over fifty years ago, but emergency call centers have not kept pace with these innovations,” said Eshoo. “Over 85 percent of Americans now own a smartphone, and our 911 call centers aren’t equipped with the most up-to-date technology to respond to text messages or images from smartphones.”
The bill authorizes $15 billion in federal funding to help state and local governments deploy Next Generation 911 systems. The upgrades will enable emergency call centers to handle text messages, pictures, videos, and other information sent by smartphones, tablets, and other devices, helping first responders and first responders and public safety officials save lives, say Eshoo and Hudson, who co-chair the NextGen 911 Caucus.
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