Sen Klobuchar introduces bill to provide funding for the deployment of Next Generation 9-1-1

Co-chair of the Senate Next Generation 9-1-1 Caucus Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Sen Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) announced a bill to create a $10 billion federal grant program for upgrades to the US's 911 centers (S.2754). Expanding 911 to accept more kinds of digital data would add more resiliency to a system that's still built around a copper-based telephone network. A next-generation 911 would allow the nation's 6,000 911 centers to accept texts, videos and photos. Similarly, the House Energy & Commerce Committee approved its own proposal for a $10 billion boost for next-generation 911 as part of the $3.5 trillion spending package. The House proposal would not allow its funding to go to states that divert funds from the 911 fees on consumer phone bills to non-911 purposes; Federal Communications Commission data states that at least 5 states have used a portion of their 911 funds to support public safety programs unrelated to 911.