SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) – The Illinois State Police and the Office of the Statewide 911 Administrator are proud to announce a new upgrade to Illinois' 911 network.Â
The new statewide Next Generation 911 (NG911) network will be Internet-based to be more reliable, reduce response times, and provide greater accuracy in delivering calls to the proper responding agency.Â
It will also provide more functionality, eventually allowing residents to text 911, send pictures or video to telecommunicators.
"This critical mission was given to the Illinois State Police because it is vital to public safety, and we are getting it done. A whole generation of people grew up learning the three numbers that would bring help. With NG911, we'll have expanded functionality to provide emergency response for the generation who grew up with the Internet," said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly.
ISP Director Kelly, along with the Statewide 911 Administrator Cindy Barbera-Brelle announced that a Notice of Intent to Award (Award) was issued to AT&T for the development and implementation of a statewide Next Generation 911 (NG911) network.
The award was issued after an extensive competitive procurement process that elicited responses from numerous interested vendors. The initial price of the project is estimated at approximately $109 million over ten years.
"This is an exciting opportunity for the State, the first responder communities, and the citizens of Illinois," said Administrator Barbera-Brelle. "NG911 will improve the public's access to emergency response services by allowing 911 centers to exchange additional data and information with responders, improve call processing times, enhance situational awareness, and increase responder safety."
Back in 2015, a major legislative rewrite of the Emergency Telephone System Act was completed to revamp 911 services in Illinois which included:
- Â Requirements to provide enhanced 911 service to previously unserved countiesÂ
- Oversee consolidation of municipal and county Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs)Â
- Centralize 911 surcharge collection at the state levelÂ
- Equalize the surcharge fee statewideÂ
- Create the Office of the Statewide 911 AdministratorÂ
The State hopes to achieve inter-connectivity and interoperability throughout the State by implementing state-of-the art network and services that will serve all county, municipal, and regional PSAPs.Â
The transition from the old telephone 911 services to an Internet-based NG911 offers options to resolve challenges to bringing new and emerging technologies to citizens of Illinois.Â
Of paramount importance is delivering a universal, robust, and reliable 911 service and providing each 911 caller with the same level of service for all residents and visitors of the State, regardless of location or device.Â
NG911 offers great promise in accomplishing each of these goals while providing a platform to grow and expand as environmental factors change over time.
Work on the project is expected to begin in the last quarter of FY21.
