RD256 - Commonwealth of Virginia E-911 Services Board FY 2015 Annual Report


Executive Summary:
The Code of Virginia (§ 56-484.14) requires the E-911 Services Board (the “Board”) to report annually to the Governor, the Senate Committee on Finance, the House Committee on Appropriations, and the Virginia State Crime Commission on the following:

(i) the state of enhanced 9-1-1 services in the Commonwealth,

(ii) the impact of, or need for, legislation affecting enhanced 9-1-1 services in the Commonwealth,

(iii) the need for changes in the E-911 funding mechanism provided to the Board, as appropriate, and

(iv) monitor developments in enhanced 9-1-1 service and multi-line telephone systems and the impact of such technologies upon the implementation of Article 8 (§ 56-484.19 et seq.) of Chapter 15 of Title 56.

• (i) The state of enhanced 9-1-1 services in the Commonwealth

The Board recently completed a fresh 9-1-1 Comprehensive Plan that formally establishes guiding principles for 9-1-1 that support a holistic approach to 9-1-1 services and focuses on the 9-1-1 ecosystem in Virginia. In addition, the Board took the critical first step in the migration to Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) (*1) by completing a NG9-1-1 Feasibility Study earlier in the year. The most significant upcoming event that both of these planning documents address is the retirement of the current analog 9-1-1 network, which will have a significant financial impact on Virginia Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). As a result, the Board is planning the implementation of an Emergency Services Internet Protocol (IP) network (ESInet), essentially a network-of-networks, to advance toward NG9-1-1. The Board also continues to support the deployment of Text-to-9-1-1 services in Virginia.

The deployment of wireless enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) Phase I service, where the caller’s telephone number and the address of the cell site are provided to the public safety answering point (PSAP), is complete. The deployment of wireless E9-1-1 Phase II, which provides the PSAP with the caller’s actual location by longitude and latitude, is also complete. Furthermore, all localities within the Commonwealth currently provide wireline E9-1-1 service.

• (ii) The impact of, or need for, legislation affecting enhanced wireless emergency telecommunications services in the Commonwealth

The Board is preparing draft legislative changes for the 2016 General Assembly session. These legislative changes were recommended by the Board’s Policy Committee and are based on recommendations included in the NG9-1-1 Feasibility Study. The following is a summary of the proposed draft legislation:

o Rename the Board to the 9-1-1 Services Board (drop “E”) and makes all references consistent

o Establish the Board’s ESInet and core NG9-1-1 services standard setting authority

o Defines the terms “ESInet” and “NG9-1-1”

o Codify 9-1-1 as essential, local, public safety service

• (iii) The need for changes in the E-911 funding mechanism provided to the Board, as appropriate

At the end of FY2015, the Wireless E-911 Fund (the “Fund”) remains fiscally sound. However, moving forward, an existing appropriation and transfer from the Fund to other agencies and programs will challenge the Board’s ability to meet financial obligations, to both the wireless carriers and the PSAPs, and maintain the viability of the Fund. The current biennial budget includes a $3.7 million appropriation to the Virginia State Police (VSP) for wireless 9-1-1 call taking. However, all localities in the commonwealth are currently accepting wireless calls and no longer rely on the VSP to transfer wireless 9-1-1 calls to them. Also included in the current biennium budget is an $8 million transfer from the Fund to the Compensation Board’s budget to support sheriff’s dispatchers.

Continuing to provide funding to the VSP and the Compensation Board could jeopardize the commonwealth’s ability to receive federal funding in the future. Federal law enacted in 2004 requires states that apply for federal 9-1-1 grant funding (or the PSAPs within the states) to certify that no 9-1-1 funding raised through state charges was diverted to any purpose other than the purposes for which such charges are designated or presented. However, the impact of the $8 million transfer has already been felt by the PSAP community since there is less funding available to them for the replacement of outdated equipment and to expand services to the citizens of the commonwealth. The $8 million transfer to the Compensation Board means that there is $8 million less funding available for future PSAP Grant Program grants to fund critical PSAP projects, including those that support NG9-1-1.

• (iv) Monitor developments in enhanced 9-1-1 service and multi-line telephone systems

This is a duty of the Board that was enacted on July 1, 2007. Most of the provisions of Article 8 (§ 56-484.19 et seq.) of Chapter 15 of Title 56 took effect on July 1, 2009 and information requested on these provisions is provided to interested parties.

The following sections of the report provide a more detailed analysis of the current state of E9-1-1 in the commonwealth, as well as the Wireless E-911 Fund.
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(*1) NG9-1-1 is an IP-based system comprised of managed IP-based networks (ESInets), functional elements (applications), and databases that replicate traditional E9-1-1 features and functions and provide additional capabilities. NG9-1-1 is designed to provide access to emergency services from all connected communications sources, and provide multimedia data capabilities for PSAPs and other emergency service organizations