NENA 911 System Reference Guide

Just received this email from NENA. Still digesting what exactly this email means, but at first glace, this doesn't go nearly far enough in my opinion to "assist" assist my ass! VoIP service providers in reaching the FCC's mandated e911 compliance by the November 28th deadline (see bold).

The National Emergency Number Association (NENA) today announced the release of a comprehensive, single source of record for Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) and 9-1-1 Selective Router (9-1-1 SR) administrative data. The new "9-1-1 System Reference Guide" is a planning and communication resource to assist service providers, including VoIP Service Providers (VSPs) and VoIP Positioning Centers (VPCs), in supporting FCC-compliant 9-1-1 interconnection.

The 9-1-1 System Reference Guide is a real-time window into NENA's North American 9-1-1 Resource Database, previously known as the National PSAP Registry which was originally developed as a repository of contact information for PSAPs in the United States. The 9-1-1 System Reference Guide is an expansion of NENA's existing efforts and includes critical information to assist VSPs, VPCs, and others in providing an E9-1-1 solution. The information contained in the 9-1-1 System Reference Guide will assist providers in their efforts to plan and build their own in-house VoIP E9-1-1 call routing solution but will not be available for live 9-1-1 call delivery.

"Providing ways to better connect PSAPs and service providers with the resources they need to make 9-1-1 work is central to the mission of NENA, " said Robert Martin, NENA executive director. "As part of its core mission to be ‘The Voice of 9-1-1,' NENA has consistently taken the lead in maintaining and making available a central list of PSAPs and contact information. We look forward to working with our members and partners to provide this essential data."

Specific data provided in the 9-1-1 System Reference Guide includes PSAP contact information such as PSAP name, contact name, county, city, state and phone; and 9-1-1 SR data such as SR name, type, operator, county, city and state, and which PSAPs it supports. The data is collected and maintained by NENA in partnership with Intrado Inc. (NASDAQ:TRDO), a global provider of integrated data and telecommunications solutions. The Reference Guide does not include data related to PSAPs opting out of the North American 9-1-1 Resource Database, specific 9-1-1 SR or PSAP address location information, telephone numbers related to live 9-1-1 call delivery or access for PSAP personnel with PSAP Registry login and password.

NENA will grant exclusive access to the 9-1-1 System Reference Guide to authorized service providers via a secure web portal on a subscription basis. For product details contact NENA headquarters at 800-332-3911, send email to 911rdb@nena.org, or visit www.nena.org/911rdb.