PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 14-1481 October 10, 2014 FCC SEEKS NOMINATIONS BY NOVEMBER 7, 2014 FOR MEMBERSHIP ON NEW TASK FORCE ON OPTIMAL PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINT ARCHITECTURE The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) is seeking nominations and expressions of interest for membership on the Task Force on Optimal Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Architecture (Task Force or TFOPA). On August 13, 2014, the Commission directed the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau,1 consistent with any and all requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and pending approval from the General Services Administration,2 to convene a task force to study and report findings and recommendations on Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) structure and architecture in order to determine whether additional consolidation of PSAP infrastructure and architecture improvements would promote greater efficiency of operations, safety of life, and cost containment, while retaining needed integration with local first responder dispatch and support. The Commission directed that the task force include representatives from state, local and tribal authorities. The FCC intends to establish the task force for a period of two years, tentatively planned to commence in November 2014, through November 2016. Nominations and expressions of interest for membership must be submitted to the FCC no later than November 7, 2014. Procedures for submitting nominations and expressions of interest are set forth below. TFOPA MISSION The duties of the Task Force will be to study and report findings and recommendations on the following issues: 1. Optimal PSAP system and network configuration in terms of emergency communications efficiency, performance, and operations functionality; 2. Cost projections for conversion to and annual operation of PSAPs that incorporate such optimal system design; 3. Comparative cost projections for annual maintenance of all existing PSAPs annually and upgrading them to NG911; 4. Recommendations on ways to ensure states use E911 funds for their intended purpose; and 5. Whether states that divert E911 funds should be ineligible to participate on various FCC councils, committees, and working groups. 1 Facilitating the Deployment of Text-to-911 and Other Next Generation 911 Applications, Framework for Next Generation 911 Deployment, PS Docket Nos. 11-153 and 10-255, Second Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 29 FCC Rcd 9846, 9881 ¶¶ 79-80 (2014). 2 5 U.S.C. App. 2. 2As authorized under the FACA, the Bureau anticipates creating sub-task groups to focus on recommendations in specific functional areas, including (but not limited to) optimal PSAP network security risk management and defense practices; identifying appropriate cost recovery and funding mechanisms that will facilitate PSAP transitions to IP-enabled architecture; improving 911 functionality and cost-effectiveness through consolidated network architecture design and operation; consideration of FCC and state/local roles in the oversight of NG911-enabled PSAPs; and projected long-term public benefits from post-transition PSAPs. The Task Force will present its initial findings and recommendations to the Commission no later than April 30, 2015. MEMBERSHIP Members of the Task Force will be appointed from among federal, state, tribal, and local government agencies and organizations; organizations representing users of communications systems, including the Internet; and other private-sector organizations to balance the expertise and viewpoints that are necessary to effectively address the issues to be considered. The Commission is particularly interested in receiving nominations and expressions of interest from individuals and organizations in the following categories: · State, tribal and/or local government agencies and organizations with expertise in communications and public safety issues; · Federal government agencies with expertise in communications and/or homeland security issues; · Communications service providers and organizations representing communications service providers, including wireline, wireless, interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications service providers, and other IP-enabled service providers; · System service providers, including vendors of equipment and services used to provide critical network infrastructure to PSAPs, including automatic number information (ANI) and automatic location information (ALI); data management; 911 call processing systems; and National Emergency Number Association (NENA) i3 NG911 compliant systems. · Organizations and other entities representing consumer or community organizations, such as those representing people with disabilities, the elderly, those living in rural areas, and those representing populations that speak, as their primary language, languages other than English. · Qualified representatives of other stakeholders and interested parties with relevant expertise. NOMINATIONS/EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST PROCEDURES AND DEADLINE Nominations should be received by the Commission as soon as possible, but no later than November 7, 2014. Organizations should, whenever viable, nominate for membership their Chief Executive Officer, Chief Technical Officer, or other senior-level officer or person associated with that organization having appropriate qualifications. There is no specific nomination form; however, each nomination must include the following information: · Name, title, and organization of the nominee and a description of the organization, sector, or other interest the nominee will represent; 3· Nominee’s postal mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number, and facsimile number; and · A statement summarizing the nominee’s qualifications and reasons why the nominee should be appointed to the Task Force. If the nominee will represent a specific organization, the statement should also include a description of the organization and an explanation of the benefit of having the organization represented on the Task Force. Please note this Notice is not intended to be the exclusive method by which the Commission will solicit nominations and expressions of interest to identify qualified candidates; however, all candidates for membership on the Task Force will be subject to the same evaluation criteria. Nominations should be sent to David Furth, Deputy Bureau Chief, Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, via e-mail at david.furth@fcc.gov; via facsimile at 202-418-0632; or via U.S. mail at 445 12th Street SW, Room 7- C753, Washington, DC, 20554. Because of the extensive security screening of incoming U.S. mail, delivery of U.S. mail sent to the Commission may be delayed, and submission by e-mail or facsimile is encouraged. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Furth, Deputy Chief, Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau, (202) 418-0632 (voice) or david.furth@fcc.gov (e-mail). - FCC -