NENA is happy to announce the availability of fifty Gold Line Telecommunicator Continuing Education Scholarships!

This scholarship opportunity is open to any telecommunicator, call taker, or dispatcher with at least one year of experience and in good standing with their current employer. 

Supervisory and other managerial personnel are not eligible for this award.

Previous annual-conference scholarship recipients (ex. Gold Line, Women in 9-1-1) are not eligible for this award.

Each Telecommunicator Continuing Education Scholarship recipient receives:

•  Complimentary registration to the NENA 2025 Conference & Expo;
• Complimentary registration for a one-day pre-conference course of choice at NENA 2025; and
• A $1,500 travel stipend.

To be eligible for a scholarship, you must complete and submit the scholarship application and provide a current resume. Any answers you provide in the "short answer" section of the application must be written by you without any AI or "chatbot" assistance.

Applications will be accepted through February 15, 2025. Scholarship winners will be notified no later than mid-March.

Click here to apply for a scholarship.

Note: Our host hotel and conference site was largely unaffected by the recent storms in Florida and they are ready to welcome us in January! 

Learn, Collaborate, & Contribute!
Get ready for the NENA Standards & Best Practices Conference, the one-of-a-kind event where you’re in the driver’s seat! This interactive, attendee-powered conference goes beyond learning about the latest issues and standards shaping 9-1-1 technology and best practices – it's your opportunity to actively contribute to the guidelines, resources, and documents that are transforming 9-1-1 operations, systems, and services. Register today to secure your seat at the table to help shape what’s next for 9-1-1 and push PSAPs to new heights!

With your peers from across the 9-1-1 universe, you’ll discuss and work to address the most pressing issues facing 9-1-1. No other event provides you with the opportunity to shape the future of 9-1-1 and impact public safety for decades to come! Don’t miss your chance to be part of it! 

Click here to register, here to book your housing, and here to learn more.

The Future Now & the Future Tomorrow: Exploring the Potential of Artificial Intelligence
Join us for a transformative two-day Critical Issues Forum focused on today’s applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your 9-1-1 center, as well as what the near future holds for AI-driven innovation. Gain insights into the most cutting-edge technologies and learn how to leverage AI to revolutionize your PSAP operations right now, as well as how to plan for tomorrow.

This event is your opportunity to not only hear from leading AI experts, but also experience how these technologies can revolutionize your 9-1-1 center right now! Don’t miss this chance to stay ahead of the curve — register now and explore the future of AI in public safety!

Due to overwhelming demand, we're sold out of rooms at our 9-1-1 Goes to Washington host hotel. We've just added a block of rooms at the nearby DoubleTree Crystal City.

Click here to book your room at the DoubleTree.

Join hundreds of 9-1-1 professionals for 9-1-1 Goes to Washington — the premier event where policy meets action! Gain insider knowledge on the critical challenges facing emergency communications and advocate for the future of 9-1-1 directly with lawmakers and officials.

This unique conference empowers you to:

• Shape the national 9-1-1 agenda;
• Stay informed on key legislation, regulations, and policy initiatives; and
• Make the voice of 9-1-1 heard by engaging directly with policymakers.

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind opportunity to influence the future of 9-1-1. Register now and make a difference!

Every day, 9-1-1 professionals like you are a lifeline in moments of crisis, bringing hope and reassurance when it’s needed most. Now, you have the chance to extend that same life-changing support to members of our 9-1-1 family.

By contributing to NENA’s Gold Line Scholarship Fund, you’re opening doors to vital training and professional growth for those who may not otherwise have access. These scholarships are more than just financial aid – they empower recipients with the skills and knowledge to face the toughest challenges, adapt to change, and save lives.

Time and again, scholarship recipients share how these opportunities have transformed their work and boosted their confidence. This training doesn’t just enhance careers—it changes lives. Every dollar you give is a step toward helping fellow 9-1-1 professionals grow, thrive, and continue making a difference.

Your generosity sparks hope, growth, and transformation. Donate today and be part of something truly life changing.

NENA: seeks information from facilities capable of supporting annual testing of NENA’s Next Generation 9-1-1 Industry Collaboration Events (ICE).

The ICE program, plays a pivotal role in the development and implementation of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) systems. ICE events bring together vendors in an open, supportive, and collaborative environment that fosters a spirit of technical cooperation.

ICE testing events are convened on an annual basis in October. At the events, members of the public safety vendor community gather to test implementations of standards in a safe environment. The test cases are developed by the participants themselves under the auspices of the ICE Planning Committee, which is empaneled by representatives of the very companies that participate in the ICE event.

Every three years the ICE Steering Committee, as the oversight body, opens an RFI to seek information from potential hosts for the event. The ICE Steering Committee’s goals are to identify a capable and secure, conducive environment(s) to perform the inter vendor testing of Next Generation 9-1-1 elements and related standards; and to ensure a venue is committed-to and aware of the requirements to host NENA’s ICE with adequate facilities, resources, personnel, and related technology to achieve a successful event.

Click here to learn more about the RFI.  

After a transformative 16-year tenure, NENA CEO Brian Fontes has announced he will step down from his leadership role in the fall of 2025. Fontes will remain with NENA in an advisory capacity into 2026 to ensure a successful transition to new leadership.

Under Fontes’ direction, NENA has grown and thrived. The organization increased its membership by nearly 400%; became the recognized leader and authority on Next Generation 9-1-1; deepened its influence in Washington; earned the designation of Accredited Standards Developer from the American National Standards Institute; and enhanced its portfolio of best-in-class training programs for 9-1-1 professionals.

"Leading NENA has been one of the most fulfilling and rewarding chapters of my career," said Fontes. "I am proud of what the organization has accomplished over the past 16 years, and I am excited for the future of the association."

In the spring, the NENA Board of Directors, supported by an advisory committee, will conduct a search for Fontes’ successor and develop a transition roadmap to ensure a seamless leadership handoff.

Click here to read more. 

Having adjudicated all comments, the below documents are now considered "stable." Per NENA Development Group Operational Procedures, Section 3.3.2.6, "Stable Form Notices" are being issued and can be viewed by clicking below:

• NENA Standard for 9-1-1/988 Interactions
• NENA Standard for the Non-Conventional Means of Communicating with E9-1-1
• NENA Standard for the Conveyance of Emergency Incident Data Objects (EIDOs)
• NENA Standard for Communications Center/PSAP Daily Personnel Operations