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Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.

New York City Council

Committee on Technology

Nov 25, 2024

·

01:00 PM

1 hr 6 min

Summary

A hearing on improving accessibility to city services, focusing on:

  • Next Generation 911 (NG911) implementation
  • Text-to-911 capabilities in multiple languages
  • American Sign Language (ASL) public service announcements on LinkNYC kiosks

Discussions centered on the timeline for NG911 rollout, current limitations of text-to-911 services, and the need for greater engagement with disability advocates.

Council members expressed disappointment with the lack of concrete plans for expanding language accessibility and limited collaboration with the deaf and hard of hearing community since 2020.

Features testimony from the Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) and the public, including deaf community advocates.

Meeting chapters

Read summaries and watch videos for short segments that matter to you.

REMARKS

Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez opens Technology Committee hearing on accessibility bills

Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, chair of the Committee on Technology, opens a hearing to discuss several bills aimed at improving accessibility to city services. She introduces the bills under consideration, …

0:00:29

·

142 sec

AGENCY TESTIMONY

Introduction and background on NYC's 911 system

Robert Barbera, Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety and Emergency Management for OTI, introduces himself and provides context on New York City's 911 system. He highlights the collaboration between OTI, NYPD, …

0:03:13

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125 sec

AGENCY TESTIMONY

Implementation and usage of interim text-to-911 service

Barbera discusses the implementation of an interim text-to-911 service while awaiting full NG911 deployment. This service was launched to address immediate needs for text-based emergency communication. - Interim text-to-911 was …

0:05:21

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40 sec

AGENCY TESTIMONY

Progress and timeline for Next Generation 911 implementation

Barbera provides an update on the progress of Next Generation 911 (NG911) implementation in New York City, outlining key milestones and the projected timeline for full deployment. - Full launch …

0:06:02

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90 sec

AGENCY TESTIMONY

Discussion of Introduction 138: ASL public service announcements on LinkNYC kiosks

Barbera addresses Introduction 138, which proposes requiring a certain percentage of public service announcements on LinkNYC kiosks to be in American Sign Language (ASL). - Barbera defers to other colleagues …

0:07:34

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55 sec

AGENCY TESTIMONY

Discussion of Introduction 197: Reporting on text-to-911 language availability

Barbera addresses Introduction 197, which proposes requiring OTI to report on the future availability of text-to-911 in designated city languages. - Currently, on-site language translation support for 911 is available …

0:08:31

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76 sec

AGENCY TESTIMONY

Discussion of Introduction 646 and future NG911 enhancements

Barbera addresses Introduction 646, which proposes expanding annual NG911 reporting to include outreach efforts to deaf and hard of hearing experts. He also discusses future plans for NG911 enhancements. - …

0:09:50

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66 sec

Q&A

Introduction and initial questions about NG911 implementation

Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez opens the floor by recognizing Council Member Vicky Paladino and begins questioning Deputy Commissioner Robert Barbera about the NG911 implementation timeline. - Gutiérrez seeks clarification on …

0:11:07

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40 sec

Q&A

Clarification on NG911 implementation timeline and phases

Deputy Commissioner Robert Barbera provides details on the NG911 implementation timeline and phases in response to Council Member Gutiérrez's questions. - Phase 1 of NG911, involving migration from E911 to …

0:11:49

·

94 sec

Q&A

Discussion of Intro 138 - LinkNYC kiosks and ASL public service announcements

Council Member Gutiérrez inquires about Intro 138, which concerns public service announcements on LinkNYC kiosks in American Sign Language (ASL). - Questions focus on the allocation of kiosk advertisement time …

0:13:26

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89 sec

Q&A

LinkNYC kiosk video call capabilities and technical specifications

Council Member Gutiérrez inquires about the technical capabilities of LinkNYC kiosks, particularly regarding video calls and software used. - Barbera confirms that LinkNYC kiosks have video relay services - Many …

0:14:56

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125 sec

Q&A

Discussion of Intro 197 and current text-to-911 language capabilities

Council Member Gutiérrez inquires about Intro 197, which proposes OTI report on the future availability of text-to-911 in city-wide languages. - Current text-to-911 services are only available in English and …

0:17:02

·

3 min

Q&A

Statistics on 911 calls and text sessions requiring language translation

Deputy Commissioner Barbera provides statistics on 911 calls and text sessions that required language translation. - Approximately 234,000 audio calls were translated within the top 10 languages in the current …

0:20:02

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99 sec

Q&A

Challenges and plans for expanding language support in NG911

Deputy Commissioner Barbera discusses the challenges and future plans for expanding language support in the Next Generation 911 system. - Phase 2 of NG911 will involve evaluating additional technology for …

0:21:44

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104 sec

REMARKS

Council Member Paladino expresses disappointment with lack of answers on disability-related bills

Council Member Vickie Paladino expresses her disappointment with the commissioner's lack of preparedness and inability to provide sufficient answers regarding three important bills related to New Yorkers with disabilities. She …

0:23:30

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50 sec

Q&A

OTI's engagement with disability advocates for NextGen 911 rollout

Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez inquires about OTI's engagement with disability advocates regarding the NextGen 911 rollout. Robert Barbera from OTI confirms that consultations took place during the planning phase for …

0:24:30

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75 sec

Q&A

Staffing for accessibility expertise at OTI

Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez inquires about OTI's staffing for accessibility expertise, particularly for the deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind community. Robert Barbera explains the current situation and past practices …

0:25:47

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62 sec

Q&A

Testing and feedback on NG911 services since implementation

Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez inquires about testing and feedback processes for NG911 services since implementation, particularly regarding engagement with advocates. Robert Barbera provides information on briefings and feedback received. - …

0:26:48

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56 sec

Q&A

Progress reports released by OTI on NG911

Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez inquires about the progress reports released by OTI regarding NG911. Robert Barbera provides information on the frequency and history of these reports. - OTI releases an …

0:27:45

·

42 sec

Q&A

Capability for sharing videos and multimedia in NG911 text messaging

Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez inquires about the capability for sharing videos and multimedia in NG911 text messaging. Robert Barbera explains the current status and limitations of multimedia support in the …

0:28:30

·

141 sec

Q&A

Carrier support for multimedia messaging in NG911

Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez inquires about carrier support for multimedia messaging in NG911. Robert Barbera provides information on the current state of carrier support and comparisons with other municipalities. - …

0:30:53

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32 sec

Q&A

OTI's involvement in conversations with carriers and implementation of multimedia support

Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez inquires about OTI's involvement in conversations with carriers regarding multimedia support for NG911. Robert Barbera explains OTI's role and the current status of multimedia support implementation. …

0:31:28

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118 sec

Q&A

Timeline for completion of NG911 implementation phases

Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez inquires about the timeline for completing NG911 implementation phases, particularly focusing on the completion of the first phase. Robert Barbera provides information on the current projected …

0:33:36

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33 sec

Q&A

Plans and timeline for Phase 2 of NG911 implementation

Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez inquires about the plans and timeline for Phase 2 of NG911 implementation. Robert Barbera explains the current status and approach to Phase 2 planning. - Phase …

0:34:12

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70 sec

Q&A

Text-to-911 awareness and usage in New York City

Council Member Erik D. Bottcher raises concerns about New Yorkers' awareness of the text-to-911 option and confusion about when to use it. Deputy Commissioner Robert Barbera explains the 'call if …

0:35:23

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69 sec

Q&A

Comparison of voice calls and text messages for 911 services

Deputy Commissioner Barbera explains why voice calls are generally faster to process than text messages for 911 services. The discussion highlights the efficiency of direct verbal communication in emergency situations. …

0:36:34

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39 sec

Q&A

'Call if you can, text if you can't' campaign details and future plans

Council Member Bottcher inquires about the details of the 'call if you can, text if you can't' campaign, including its launch date and potential revival. Deputy Commissioner Barbera provides information …

0:37:14

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81 sec

Q&A

Technical limitations of the legacy 911 system

Deputy Commissioner Barbera explains the technical limitations of the legacy e911 system, particularly regarding call takers' ability to handle both voice and text communications simultaneously. This discussion highlights the challenges …

0:38:37

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31 sec

Q&A

Recommended scenarios for texting 911

Council Member Bottcher inquires about specific situations where texting 911 might be recommended, aside from hearing impairment. Deputy Commissioner Barbera provides a brief response and offers to gather more information …

0:39:10

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42 sec

Q&A

Comparison with other municipalities' 911 texting services

Council Member Bottcher inquires about other municipalities' approaches to 911 texting, particularly those that have expanded beyond the 'call if you can, text if you can't' model. Deputy Commissioner Barbera …

0:39:54

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77 sec

REMARKS

Council Member Bottcher's vision for the future of 911 communication

Council Member Erik D. Bottcher shares his thoughts on the potential for expanding text-based 911 services, emphasizing the need to adapt to changing communication preferences of younger generations. He advocates …

0:41:12

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39 sec

Q&A

Council Member Gutiérrez questions Deputy Commissioner on NextGen 911 implementation timeline and accessibility improvements

Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez expresses disappointment with the lack of concrete plans for expanding language accessibility in NextGen 911 and questions Deputy Commissioner Robert Barbera about the timeline for implementation …

0:41:59

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178 sec

PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Testimony by Michelle Blonde Monterville, Representative of Lead For Humanity

Michelle Blonde Monterville, representing Lead For Humanity, testified about the plight of everyday people affected by Havana Syndrome and other anomalous health issues. She advocated for recognition, compensation, and protection …

0:46:58

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133 sec

PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Testimony by Nicole Plumber, Deaf Community Advocate, on Next Generation 911 Implementation

Nicole Plumber, a deaf community advocate, testified about the lack of progress and engagement from the Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) regarding the implementation of Next Generation 911 (NG911) …

0:49:47

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4 min

PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Testimony by Marcela Davis, Advocate for Deaf Community

Marcela Davis, an advocate for the deaf community, testified about the need for improved technology services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, particularly regarding LinkNYC billboards and 911 tech …

0:55:20

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161 sec

REMARKS

Council member thanks testifiers and expresses disappointment with agency responses

Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez opens by thanking the testifiers for their patience and testimony. She expresses disappointment with the agency's responses and their inability to articulate a vision for increased …

0:58:03

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60 sec

Q&A

Discussion on current 911 accessibility and potential improvements

Council Member Gutiérrez engages in a Q&A session with Nicolin and Marcela about the current state of 911 accessibility for deaf individuals and potential improvements. - Asks about the adequacy …

0:59:03

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4 min

REMARKS

Council member's concluding remarks and commitment to continued advocacy

Council Member Gutiérrez concludes the hearing with remarks about continued efforts to improve accessibility and engage with advocates. - Expresses intention to stay in contact with the testifiers and continue …

1:03:04

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179 sec

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