Q&A
Discussion of Intro 197 and current text-to-911 language capabilities
0:17:02
·
3 min
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 Spanish
- Language translation for other languages is primarily available for voice calls through LanguageLine
- Gutiérrez expresses interest in expanding text-to-911 services to include the 10 designated city languages
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:17:02
Okay.
0:17:03
Let's move then to intro 197, which proposes, OTI report on the future availability of text to 911 in the city wide languages.
0:17:14
In your testimony, you included that the on-site language translation is, for tech callers and texters is in Spanish, with other translation services supported through LanguageLine.
0:17:27
Now can you explain for us, so that we have it on the record, what that looks like for someone trying to text in Haitian Creole, for example, a language that is not covered through the text services, through NextGen, how language line plays a role in them being able to text their emergency to 911.
Robert Barbera
0:17:51
So the language line services primarily are utilized within the, voice component of the 911 call path, And they're engaged for any languages that are not supported on-site, which are only English and Spanish at this time.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:18:08
Into text, currently, though?
0:18:10
It is only English and Spanish?
Robert Barbera
0:18:13
Yes.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:18:13
Okay.
0:18:14
So, the the bill is asking OTI to report, the viability of the future of including at least the the 10, designated languages in the city.
0:18:22
And so I'm unclear from your testimony whether that is part of this existing plan, if it's something that, you all feel you can support.
0:18:31
I mean, in your testimony, you've detailed, the, you know, close to 200,000 text sessions since you were fully launched in 2020.
0:18:39
You said it seems to be a very worthwhile investment.
0:18:42
So curious where the administration stands on expanding this worthwhile investment into the remaining designated languages for the city of New York.
Robert Barbera
0:18:51
So, with the transition from E 911 to NextGen 911, the current tech service availability will remain the same as part of phase 2?
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:19:01
Will remain English and Spanish only?
Robert Barbera
0:19:03
Yes.
0:19:04
As part of phase 2, we will explore the use of advanced technologies to accept and translate additional languages.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:19:15
Would you be able to share, how many audio calls you all receive in the remaining designated languages?
Robert Barbera
0:19:24
I'm sorry.
0:19:24
You say remaining?
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:19:26
Yeah.
0:19:26
So, there's there's 10, I think, designated by the city of New York, which is what this bill is trying to include for text, or just in other languages.
0:19:34
And we can And then, just also, if you if you can curious what you think some of the the challenges are in trying to include that into to phase 1, or what you anticipate challenges are to do that into phase 2?
Robert Barbera
0:20:02
So, overall, within the top 10 languages received that were translated within 911 in this current year to date.
