FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
                                   WASHINGTON 

        
OFFICE OF THE 
  CHAIRWOMAN                                    April 13, 2022 
   
   
  Shalanda Young 
  Director 
  Office of Management and Budget 
  725 17th Street, NW 
  Washington, DC 20503 
   
  Dear Director Young: 
   
        In recognition of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, I am writing to share 
  my thoughts on the importance of the dedicated professionals who respond to calls to our 
  nationwide emergency number, 911. 
        As the federal agency with primary regulatory responsibility for communications, the 
  Federal Communications Commission has special familiarity with the 911 system and the work 
  performed by public safety telecommunicators nationwide.   
        911 operators are among our most essential first responders.  Before a whistle at a fire 
  station blows, an ambulance races, or an air horn blares, it is a 911 professional who takes in a 
  call and sets emergency response in motion.  Of course, today’s 911 professionals do far more 
  than answer 911 calls or passively receive information.  They provide assistance, guidance, and 
  life-saving advice to 911 callers, particularly in the critical minutes before emergency personnel 
  arrive at the scene.  They also actively plan, coordinate, and direct the response activities of 
  emergency personnel, especially when multiple agencies are involved.   
        The role of the public safety telecommunicator is also changing as 911 communications 
  technology evolves.  As a result of this shift, the job of the public safety telecommunicator has 
  come to encompass not only call-taking and dispatch but also the integration and analysis of 
  multiple sources of information to determine the appropriate response to any given emergency.  
  For instance, those who answer calls also are responsible for the intake and assessment of other 
  information sources, including photos, videos from police and traffic cameras, and automated 
  alarm and sensor data.   
        While the role of public safety telecommunicators has changed, this has not yet been 
  recognized in the Standard Occupational Classification system.  As a result, I encourage the 
  Office of Management and Budget to look anew at these professionals, who have historically 
  been classified as an “Office and Administrative Support Occupation.”  In light of the 
  technological evolution of their responsibilities and work, I hope at the next available 
  opportunity your agency can explore an update to their classification that would group them with 
  others who work in emergency response in the “Protective Service” category.   

       
      Thank you for your attention.  I believe these dedicated professionals are an essential part 
of our system of public safety and recognizing them as such will better reflect the work they do 
and provide them with the dignity they deserve.  I would welcome the opportunity to collaborate 
with you on this effort and would be happy to provide you with any further information or 
assistance you might require. 
       
                                          Sincerely,  

                                                                          
                                          Jessica Rosenworcel