Agenda - 11-18-2014 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ild 1 Since 1992, Orange County has utilized Enhanced 9 -1 -1 (E9 -1 -1) that represented a significant 2 improvement in 9 -1 -1 service by providing the telecommunicator with the name and address of 3 landline callers. Today, the technology has broadened its capabilities to provide a geographic 4 location that identifies the latitude and longitude coordinates for wireless callers. The County is 5 now poised to make another significant technology jump due to consumer expectations and 6 major world events by allowing residents, visitors, and responders to utilize texting, imaging and 7 video capture to 9 -1 -1 as well as providing a faster connection to 9 -1 -1 through digital 8 connections. NextGen 9 -1 -1 (NG911) will use Internet Protocol (I P) based hardware and 9 software to provide call identification, location determination, call routing, and call signaling for 10 emergency calls. 11 12 NG911 capable public safety answering points (PSAPs) can receive and process incoming calls 13 by means of IP -based networks called Emergency Services IP Networks (ESlnets). This 14 network architecture will support many more modes of emergency communication than the 15 voice - centric legacy system currently in use. ESlnets are designed not only to receive traditional 16 911 voice calls, but also to receive text, data, and video communications from any 17 communications device via IP -based networks. In addition, ESlnets can be configured to 18 receive machine - generated data from telematics applications (e.g., automatic collision 19 notification systems in vehicles provided by vendors like OnStar), medical alert systems, and 20 sensors and alarms of various types. In contrast to the device - specific connection protocols in 21 legacy 9 -1 -1 networks for wire -line, wireless, and interconnected VoIP phones, NG911 will 22 provide IP- enabled devices with multiple means of accessing the NG911 network depending on 23 whether they are operating in a stationary or mobile configuration. 24 25 In order to achieve this milestone identified in the Emergency Services Workgroup 26 recommendations for continuing to upgrade equipment to move towards the Next Generation 27 initiatives, staff is recommending the selection of Motorola to partner with Intrado to provide the 28 Next Generation Solution for Orange County. On May 8, 2014, the Board of County 29 Commissioners approved the Orange County Emergency Services Strategic Plan that included 30 the need to prepare, develop and implement a solution that goes beyond the current technology 31 to reinforce and integrate with a nationwide vision in providing public safety solutions to the 32 public and responders. 33 34 The County's current vendor, Qwest (formerly known as CenturyLink), has been unable to 35 provide a proposal and solution to move into this critical phase. For the past several years 36 Qwest (CenturyLink) has experienced a declining level of customer service and response to 9- 37 1 -1 service related issues, including service outages which many of the 9 -1 -1 Centers across 38 North Carolina have reported to the NC 9 -1 -1 Board. 39 40 Staff is recommending this switch in vendors to Intrado /Motorola because of Intrado's subject 41 matter expertise in providing 9 -1 -1 solutions as well as the County's long -term and successful 42 relationship with Motorola. UNC Public Safety has recently contracted with Motorola /Intrado as 43 well. Having the same vendor and network infrastructure will enable the County 9 -1 -1 Center to 44 transfer information to UNC seamlessly, and vice versa. Intrado and Motorola have both been 45 extremely responsive and proactive in identifying issues from other states and providing 46 solutions that will work in North Carolina, specifically in Orange County. 47 48 FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed NG911 Solution is an eligible expense from the North 49 Carolina 9 -1 -1 Board Emergency Telephone Fund (ETF). The ETF is derived from the monthly 50 911 service charge that is imposed on each active voice communications service connection