Sponsors (2)
The bill modernizes emergency communications in National Parks—improving response, interoperability, and transparency—but requires significant planning, coordination, and funding that may raise costs for small/local providers, park units, and taxpayers and could slow implementation.
National Park visitors, park staff, and people in nearby rural communities will get faster, more accurate emergency response because the bill advances Next Generation 9‑1‑1 capabilities (improved location, text/video, richer data) in park emergency centers.
State and local emergency responders and park emergency centers will gain better interoperability and data‑sharing across jurisdictions and technologies, improving cross‑agency coordination in multi‑jurisdiction incidents.
Local and state emergency dispatch centers and park units will have clearer legal and technical guidance—through a uniform definition of 'emergency communications center' and references to NG9‑1‑1 standards—reducing ambiguity for funding eligibility and modernization planning.
Local PSAPs, smaller park units, and taxpayers may face substantial new costs because upgrading to NG9‑1‑1 can require replacing proprietary equipment and funding planning and installation across many sites.
Federal, state, and local agencies (and DOI staff) will incur additional administrative and coordination burdens—preparing assessments, consulting across jurisdictions, and managing implementation—which could slow deployment and divert staff from other priorities.
Visitors and some park units could see uneven or delayed improvements if superintendents defer upgrades by declaring systems 'being installed,' allowing some centers to remain without NG9‑1‑1 capabilities.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Introduced January 13, 2026 by Russell Fulcher · Last progress January 13, 2026
Requires the Department of the Interior (through the National Park Service) to assess emergency communications centers in National Park units for Next Generation 9‑1‑1 (NG9‑1‑1) readiness within one year, report the findings to Congress and publish them online, and then develop a plan to install NG9‑1‑1 systems at identified centers within one year after that report. The law defines key terms (emergency communications center, NG9‑1‑1, interoperability), requires consultation with state/local officials and federal agencies, and allows exclusion of centers where adequate NG9‑1‑1 installation is already underway. No specific funding is authorized in the text.