News Release: HSAC Subcommittee will Facilitate Colorado’s Transition to Next Generation 911

Strategic Communications Director Contact: Micki Trost 303-472-4087 micki.trost@state.co.us DHSEM.state.co.us | COEmergency.com | Colorado.gov/MARS

Centennial, Colo. – March 13, 2017 — In order to facilitate Colorado’s transition to Next Generation 911 (NG911) the Homeland Security and All-Hazards Senior Advisory Committee (HSAC) will establish a Next Generation 911 Subcommittee. “We must ensure Colorado is at the forefront of adapting to new technologies and this is especially true when it comes to public safety and modernizing our 9-1-1 system,” said Gov. John Hickenlooper, “We are confident that this group of stakeholders can work collaboratively to provide strong recommendations that will bring our 9-1-1 system into a modern era.”

The Subcommittee will make recommendations to:

• Encourage the rapid deployment of Next Generation 911 (NG911) in Colorado;
  Remove barriers to the implementation of integrated emergency call management through 911
• Provide for an efficient and economic transition to NG911;
• Increase collaboration and communication among the entities responsible for originating, delivering and receiving 911 communications;
• Ensure robust and efficient emergency call management system of systems that allows the public to use any device to request help or send information to the appropriate public safety agency;
• Further data sharing among public safety answering points;
• Harmonize state oversight of emergency call management systems with federal oversight by comparing oversight model(s);
• Ensure that any network malfunction or higher-level issue that significantly degrades or prevents 911 calls from being completed is reported to the public safety answering point in a timely manner, and;
• Implement appropriate funding model(s) and accountability.
• Improve redundancy and diversity in the BESP network.

The Subcommittee will work collaboratively through a facilitated process that includes a strong representation of those who manage Colorado’s 9-1-1 system. The members of the Subcommittee will include the following representatives:

• A representative of the chiefs of police: Chief Joe Ribeiro, Manitou Springs
• A representative of the county sheriffs: Sheriff Shannon Byerly, Custer County
• A representative of fire chiefs: Deputy Chief Mark Krapf, West Metro Fire Rescue
• A representative of the emergency medical services: Chief Randy Lesher, Thompson Valley Emergency Medical Services
• A representative of the public safety answering points serving a rural population: Carl Stephens, Garfield County
• A representative of the public safety answering points serving an urban population Bruce Romero Arapahoe County
• A representative of the basic emergency service provider: Tim Kunkleman, CenturyLink
• A representative of wireless service providers: Jim McDaniel, AT&T
• A representative of a rural local exchange provider: Pete Kirchof, Colorado Telecommunications Assn
• A representative of the cable telecommunications: Not confirmed
• A representative of Access and Functional Needs community: Shirl Garcia, Citizen
• A representative of consumer interests: Bob Murphy, Colorado AARP
• A Representative of the Public Utilities Commission: Lynn Notarianni, Telecom Section Chief Colorado Public Utilities Commission
• A Representative of OIT: Kim Coleman, Broadband Implementation Manager, OIT (non-voting)
• DHSEM Staff: Russell Gibson, DHSEM (non-voting)

The Subcommittee will make recommendations to the Chair and the Chair will produce a report, to the Governor and General Assembly by August 30, 2017.

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The Homeland Security and All-Hazards Senior Advisory Committee (HSAC) is a 21 member committee led by the Colorado Department of Public Safety Executive Director. The committee was established pursuant to Colorado Revised Statute 24-33.6-1614. Additional information is located on the Colorado DHSEM website at https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhsem/hsac.