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