Q&A
Council Member Gutiérrez questions Deputy Commissioner on NextGen 911 implementation timeline and accessibility improvements
0:41:59
·
178 sec
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 and engagement with advocates. The discussion reveals that full implementation is expected by the end of 2025, with phase 2 assessments beginning in 2026.
- Gutiérrez emphasizes the need for more accessibility and language options in emergency services
- Barbera explains that the transition to NextGen 911 is necessary to explore advanced capabilities
- The timeline for engaging with advocates and assessing new capabilities is set for early 2026
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:41:59
Deputy commissioner, I think, unfortunately, a lot of the questions, that we had were specific to Lincoln y c, for example, for the purpose of the bill and just, for the space that we wanted to create for for advocates.
0:42:14
I'm hopeful that in the future, there'll be more concrete, movement or information regarding expanding the tech services to additional languages, and that we don't have to wait until 2025 to hear what what those might look like.
0:42:33
I think, obviously, the the data that you all have of the amount of calls, that you've received in multiple languages, 234 just for this year, and it plus the amount of text that you've gotten is a really good indicator of kind of the the services that we could be opening up for for more New Yorkers.
0:42:56
And I think any opportunity we have to say that we are the most accessible or that we're doing the most to provide more resources for the community that needs more accessibility is something that we should be striving for.
0:43:08
So, right now, it feels like we are not in a in a I I think we're in a position like, we're doing the bare minimum is what I wanna say.
0:43:18
I feel like there's a lot of potential there, and I'm not necessarily hearing that.
0:43:22
So if there's anything else that you wanna say before we move on to public testimony about how you can help how you think the administration or the agency is moving NextGen in a position to meet those expectations, you you certainly have the floor.
0:43:37
If not, I'm I think now is a good time to move on to public testimony.
Robert Barbera
0:43:42
I would just say that, the the core component of this program is to move off of a legacy 911 system that has very limited capabilities and has supportability issues long term, moving on to that modernized, next generation 911 system and completing that transition, that will open a door for us to really begin to explore capabilities that, would best serve New Yorkers.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:44:09
Thank you.
0:44:10
And you're saying that, by next year, there'll be a much better sense of what that looks like?
Robert Barbera
0:44:16
So phase 2 would begin, directly after the completion in December 2025.
0:44:23
And we would begin in 2026 to start to evaluate options The planning.
0:44:28
And services.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:44:29
Is the in 2026 is when you'll start the planning process?
Robert Barbera
0:44:32
We'll start an assessment of available capabilities that, may be available to for integration.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:44:39
And and when do you think that you would start working with advocates again, for example?
0:44:43
Is that in 2025?
Robert Barbera
0:44:45
That would be in the beginning of 2026 when we start phase 2.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:44:48
Okay.
0:44:50
Okay.
0:44:51
Alright.
0:44:51
Well, thank you so much.
0:44:52
I appreciate your time.
0:44:54
Looking forward to the responses from the franchise team.
