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Challenges and plans for expanding language support in NG911

0:21:44

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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 automatic language translation
Current E911 and NG911 systems do not have automatic translation capabilities
Spanish support is currently provided by Spanish-speaking call takers, not through automatic translation
Expansion to other languages would require evaluation and testing of new technologies

Robert Barbera

0:21:44

The plan for phase 2 would involve evaluating additional technology to be layered on top of the next gen 911 system to translate incoming languages, transcribe them, and then translate them back.

0:22:03

This, the current e 911 system nor the current next gen 911 system has that capability today.

0:22:11

It's something that we would have to evaluate and test.

Jennifer Gutiérrez

0:22:15

It does have or does not have?

Robert Barbera

0:22:16

Does not have.

Jennifer Gutiérrez

0:22:17

Okay.

0:22:17

Yeah.

0:22:19

And, but does have it for Spanish?

Robert Barbera

0:22:24

It cannot automatically translate any languages.

0:22:27

The Spanish support is provided by Spanish speaking call takers.

Jennifer Gutiérrez

0:22:31

I see.

0:22:32

But if and you don't have the capability to do the same for a person in that additional language?

Robert Barbera

0:22:41

So, from an operational staffing perspective, that's supported by NYPD and FDNY.

0:22:47

Mhmm.

0:22:47

We'd have to take that question back to, the agencies and get back to you.

Jennifer Gutiérrez

0:22:52

Okay.

0:22:52

Because my understanding is, that they do have Obviously, they have persons or people to do those translations in those languages.

0:23:04

I don't know I'm not sure if it's necessarily language line.

0:23:07

So that's why I'm asking logistically how that's transcribed from someone texting in Spanish to 911.

0:23:12

You're saying it's it's a it's a person.

0:23:14

It's someone that's able to to interpret and then translate.

Robert Barbera

0:23:18

Correct.

0:23:18

English and Spanish only.

Jennifer Gutiérrez

0:23:20

Okay.

0:23:21

I'm gonna pass it off to council member Paladino, who I know has a couple questions and has to leave.

0:23:27

And and I'll come back.

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Statistics on 911 calls and text sessions requiring language translation

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