Texas Administrative Code
Title 1 - ADMINISTRATION
Part 12 - COMMISSION ON STATE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Chapter 251 - 9-1-1 SERVICE-STANDARDS
Section 251.7 - Guidelines for Implementing Integrated Services
Universal Citation: 1 TX Admin Code ยง 251.7
Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) Purpose. It is the purpose of this rule to allow for the integration of appropriate technologies into the 9-1-1 call-taking equipment that enhance or facilitate the delivery of a 9-1-1 call (voice or text), while providing safeguards to protect the 9-1-1 equipment from failure due to the integration of faulty or inappropriate applications.
(b) Definitions. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, terms contained in this rule are defined as shown in Commission Rule 252.7, Definitions.
(c) Integrated Services. A regional planning commission (RPC) shall meet the following requirements for integration:
(1) Integrated Services.
(A) Eligible Services. Personal Computer (PC)
based Integrated Workstation (IWS) 9-1-1 call-taking equipment has the
capability of expanding the traditional 9-1-1 Automatic Number Identification
(ANI) and Automatic Location Identification (ALI) feature functionality to
allow for additional public safety software applications. The Commission is
supportive of such advancement in emergency services call-taking capabilities;
however, 9-1-1 funds may only be used for applications that are eligible
strategic plan budget components for the purposes of the delivery of a 9-1-1
call. To ensure the integrity of 9-1-1 is maintained, only the following 9-1-1
funded and non-9-1-1 funded features are eligible integrated services:
(i) Expanded or Supplemental Location
Information;
(ii) Call Recording
and Playback;
(iii)
Paging;
(iv) Texas Law Enforcement
Teletype Services (TLETS);
(v)
Computer Aided Dispatch Gateway;
(vi) Graphical/Mapping Displaying of
Location;
(vii) Call Handling
Protocols;
(viii) Information
Management (MIS);
(ix) Short
Message Service (SMS); and
(x) Real
Time Text (RTT).
(B)
Other Services. Integrated services other than the above-mentioned applications
must have a demonstrated applicability to the direct provisions of delivering
9-1-1 and emergency call-taking services and will require Commission
approval.
(C) System Security.
Operating procedures must be established by the RPC, and security measures
taken and demonstrated, to ensure that non-Commission-approved software
applications cannot be integrated into the IWS platform. At no time should the
9-1-1 call-taking equipment permit access to the Internet.
(D) Memory Usage. Baseline memory and CPU
usage of the operating system should maintain the "80/20" performance rule,
thereby demonstrating that 80% of the total memory and CPU is available to the
operating system applications, while 20% of the total memory and CPU remains
unused. The installation and use of software should not lead to the degradation
of equipment or services subsequent to the installation of the ancillary
software.
(E) Testing. Prior to
integrating and deploying the expanded applications onto a IWS 9-1-1
call-taking environment, the following testing must be completed according to
Commission policy, to ensure the stability and reliability of the 9-1-1 system:
(i) Documented "Lab" testing shall be
completed by the IWS Vendor and RPCs or Districts demonstrating the successful
integration of the authorized applications. Test scenarios should include
documentation of the operating system requirements, detailed functionality
results as each application is integrated and evaluated independently, and load
testing results of all systems operating together on the IWS
workstation.
(ii) Documented "Live"
testing in a PSAP shall also be completed by the IWS Vendor with cooperation
and coordination by the RPC or District, demonstrating the successful
integration of the authorized applications. Test scenarios should include
documentation of the operating system requirements, detailed functionality
results as each application is integrated and evaluated independently, and load
testing results of all systems operating on the IWS workstation, as well as a
standardized set of basic call-taking functions.
(F) Testing Documentation. Documentation of
the testing shall be maintained by the RPC, and submitted to the Commission
upon request.
(2)
Graphical Display (Mapped ALI). Requirements of RPC. Prior to the
implementation of graphical display of location information at a PSAP, a RPC
shall meet the following requirements:
(A)
Develop a digital map in accordance with standards to be determined by the
Commission.
(B) Establish and adopt
a database maintenance plan, including GIS data.
(C) Perform testing to ensure that the
telephone number (TN) data is mapping correctly on the PSAP screen prior to
implementing mapped ALI "live" at a PSAP.
(D) Submit a strategic plan amendment
according to Commission policy.
(d) Applicability to Emergency Communications Districts (Districts). This rule shall apply to Districts receiving 9-1-1 Equalization Surcharge funds.
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