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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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94 sec
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
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
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
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3 min
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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42 sec
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
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141 sec
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
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
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
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
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
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
'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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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