HR6505-119

What This Bill Does

The Next Generation 9-1-1 Act builds a federal deployment structure for NG911. The NTIA Assistant Secretary, after consulting the NHTSA Administrator, must coordinate implementation with State points of contact, collect and disseminate practices and technology information, help eligible entities prepare implementation plans, provide technical assistance, review grant applications, and oversee grant funds. Annual reports to Congress begin October 1, 2026 and continue while grant funds remain available. NTIA must create a management plan within 180 days, publish it, provide it to NHTSA, and report modifications within 90 days. Grants can support implementing and maintaining NG911, training tied to deployment and operation with 3 percent or 5 percent caps, public outreach, documented planning and application costs with 1 percent or 2 percent caps, and cybersecurity measures for emergency communications centers or NG911. State applications must coordinate with emergency communications centers, designate a State point of contact, and submit implementation plans covering interoperability, reliability, multimedia and data capabilities, cybersecurity tools, information sharing, open procurement, rural and urban input, and related deployment requirements. The bill also creates a Next Generation 9-1-1 Cybersecurity Center with NTIA, NHTSA, and CISA coordination, establishes a 16-member Public Safety NG911 Advisory Board with law enforcement, fire and rescue, EMS, and 9-1-1 professional representatives, and authorizes sums as necessary for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 with no more than 4 percent for administration.

Who Benefits and How

State 9-1-1 offices benefit from federal implementation grants, technical assistance, and coordination. Tribal emergency communications authorities benefit from higher training and administrative cost caps and a pathway into NG911 grant support. Local emergency communications centers benefit from funding for multimedia, data, cybersecurity, interoperability, reliability, and public education upgrades. Public safety advisory board members benefit from a formal role shaping technical requirements and recommendations. Emergency callers benefit if NG911 systems can process text, multimedia, data, and more resilient emergency communications.

Who Bears the Burden and How

NTIA grant administrators must build the program, management plan, annual reports, application review, grant oversight, advisory board, and cybersecurity center. NHTSA 9-1-1 staff and CISA cybersecurity staff must support coordination and threat-sharing work. State points of contact must coordinate with local emergency communications centers and produce implementation plans. Grant recipients must document planning costs, meet training and administrative caps, use open procurement, and implement cybersecurity measures. Federal taxpayers fund the sums-as-necessary authorization through fiscal year 2030.

Key Provisions

• Requires NTIA to coordinate NG911 implementation, disseminate practices, provide technical assistance, review grants, and oversee funds.
• Requires annual reports beginning October 1, 2026 and a management plan within 180 days.
• Authorizes grants for NG911 implementation, maintenance, training, public outreach, planning, applications, and cybersecurity.
• Requires State coordination with emergency communications centers, State points of contact, and implementation plans with interoperability and cybersecurity elements.
• Establishes a Next Generation 9-1-1 Cybersecurity Center with CISA consultation.
• Establishes a 16-member public safety advisory board representing law enforcement, fire and rescue, EMS, and 9-1-1 professionals.
• Authorizes sums as necessary for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 and limits administrative use to 4 percent.