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NG9-1-1 ICE - Industry Collaboration Events

ICE 1

ICE 2

 
 
 
 

NENA is dedicated to ensuring that all of the goals of NG9-1-1, both technical and non-technical, are met.  NENA views a range of testing programs as a critical component to accomplishing standards based NG9-1-1. NENA understands that it is the vendors of NG9-1-1 elements that will ultimately deliver the interoperability NG9-1-1 promises. Therefore, the first NG9-1-1 testing program sponsored by NENA is aimed at supporting the vendors in their testing with each other. These Industry Collaboration Events bring together vendors in an open, supportive, and collaborative, environment that fosters a spirit of technical cooperation.

While NENA is playing a central role in the creation of the program, it is our intent to include all stakeholder groups and we are open to partnering with other industry organizations in the creation and implementation of this program. This is evidenced by the makeup of the NG9-1-1 ICE Steering Committee which has seats representing the vendors, government users & buyers, other industry associations, government organizations, NENA Technical and Operations Committee Leadership, and NENA Senior Staff.

The ICE Steering Committee is charged with overseeing all planning and execution of these testing events. ICE 1 was held on November 3, 4, and 5 2009 at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. ICE 2 is currently in the planning phase. 

Each ICE has a focus for the testing to be done. ICE 1 brought together vendors that are delivering NG9-1-1 elements that locate, route, and answer IP calls. ICE 2 will focus on Transitional Elements that are defined to facilitate the migration from the current 9-1-1 system to NG9-1-1. While not completely decided, future events are likely to have the following focuses:

  • ICE 3 - Location Related Issues
  • ICE 4 - Call Routing Based on LoST Hierarchy
  • ICE 5 - Emergency Services for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community
  • ICE 6 - Individual NG9-1-1 Element Testing 
  • ICE 7 - Supplemental Data.

Government organizations and their consultants are encouraged to support this program by adding questions related to participation in the events to any RFI or RFP they develop. Boilerplate for this has been developed and is in use by several jurisdictions. Recently, the National Association of State 9-1-1 Administrators (NASNA) has endorsed this effort and encourages all vendors to participate.

More information:

  • Ray Paddock – NENA NG9-1-1 Certification and Accreditation Program Manager - 303.495.3519
  • Roger Hixson – NENA Technical Issues Director - 614.442.9110
  • Rick Jones – NENA Operations Issues Director - 815.519.7841

 

 

NG9-1-1 ICE Committees

NG9-1-1 ICE - Steering Committee

The Steering committee is charged with planning and executing a series Industry Collaboration Events in support of the overall NENA NG9-1-1(?) Project. This body deals primarily with setting the direction and expectations for the events. It is composed of representatives of all major stakeholder groups. It is empowered to create committees as it sees fit.

  • Nate Wilcox, Chair
    Next Gen Partner commercial members
  • Norm Forshee, Vice Chair
    Next Gen Partner users
  • Paul Mallett
    Next Gen Partner users and NASNA
  • Terry McLarty
    Next Gen Partner commercial members
  • Devery Thumann
    Next Gen Partner commercial members
  • Bill Mertka - 9IA
  • Dick Dickinson - 9IA
  • Roger Hixson - NENA Staff
  • Rick Jones - NENA Staff
  • Tony Busam
    NENA Technical Committee
  • Pete Eggimann
    NENA Operations Committee
  • Kathy McMahon-Ruscitto - APCO
  • John Chiaramonte - National 9-1-1 Program Office
    National 9-1-1 Program Office
  • Ron Bloom – NENA Board Liaison
  • Ray Paddock – Secretary to the committee

The most important topics the Steering Committee deals with include the following:

  1. What will be tested??
    1. Using i3 as a “roadmap”, how should the overall architecture be segmented?
    2. What aspects of NG 9-1-1 are most important to test?
    3. Are the underlying standards in place to test? 
    4. Do the other characteristics of the segments being focused on lend themselves to an Interoperability event?
  2. How will testing be done?
    1. Will all the vendors come together in one place at one time or will this be a virtual event?
    2. What will the test scripts look like?
    3. What information/results will be collected?
  3. What information will be released, to whom, and in what format?
    1. What information should be released?
    2. Who will have access to the results?
    3. What form/format should the results take?
  4. When will the events take place?
    1. What is the schedule?
  5. Who will participate?
    1. How will the industry be engaged?
    2. What agreements will participants need to sign?
    3. How will participants be selected?