Last week, the RapidDeploy team joined public safety leaders, policymakers, and industry partners in Washington, D.C., for NENA 9-1-1 Goes to Washington (GTW)—an event that brings 911 professionals together to advocate for policies that drive the future of emergency communications.

This year’s event was particularly significant as we had the honor of addressing the public safety community about RapidDeploy’s future following our acquisition by Motorola Solutions. We also had the privilege of celebrating a public safety pioneer and hosting an incredible closing reception to cap off an impactful week. Most importantly, we stood alongside our peers in advocating for NENA’s critical policy priorities to ensure the continued evolution of 911 technology.

"A Defining Moment for Public Safety"

During Monday’s luncheon, RapidDeploy Co-Founder Steve Raucher and Motorola Solutions’ Corporate Vice President, Command Center Software Sales Travis Boettcher addressed an audience of 911 leaders to discuss the future of public safety technology.

Steve opened with this powerful statement:

“Today marks a defining moment—not just for RapidDeploy, not just for Motorola Solutions, but for the entire public safety community.”‍

Steve and Travis outlined what this acquisition means for our customers and the broader industry:

• A Unified Future: RapidDeploy’s cloud-native platforms—Radius, Lightning, and Eclipse—will continue to innovate, now backed by the scale and resources of Motorola Solutions.

• Deep Integration & Interoperability: Telecommunicators will experience a single pane of glass workflow with streamlined interfaces, reducing the burden of managing multiple screens.

• Next-Level Situational Awareness: With the integration of Motorola’s radio location services, responder locations will be visible within Radius and Lightning. Emergency alerts from GPS-capable radios will appear in PSAPs and in the field, delivering real-time visibility when seconds matter.

• AI-Powered Insights: RapidDeploy customers will have access to cutting-edge AI tools, including transcription, translation, and call summarization for 911 calls—bringing faster and more informed decision-making to the forefront.

With these advancements, we are setting a new standard for NG911. Together with Motorola Solutions, we are solving for safer.
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Advocacy at the Forefront: NENA’s Policy Priorities

One of the core missions of NENA 9-1-1 Goes to Washington is advocacy. This year, NENA emphasized two critical policy priorities that will directly impact the future of NG911:

• Securing Federal Funding for NG911 – NENA is advocating for federal funding to support the transition to NG911, leveraging FCC spectrum auction revenue. NG911 will ensure stronger cybersecurity protections and deliver life-saving technology to PSAPs across the country.

• Reclassifying Public Safety Telecommunicators – NENA is advocating for the reclassification of 911 professionals under the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) System. This would recognize telecommunicators as the essential public safety professionals they are—on par with police, fire, and EMS.

Additionally, the 911 SAVES Act—which would help achieve this reclassification—has been reintroduced in the House but has yet to be introduced in the Senate. With a new Congress only six weeks into session, continued advocacy is critical to ensuring this important legislation gains traction.

As NG911 capabilities continue to advance through technology, the success of NG911 can be affected by federal funding, cybersecurity protections, and the recognition of 911 professionals as first responders.
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Honoring a Public Safety Pioneer

RapidDeploy was honored to have Steve Raucher share the story of the NG911 Institute’s Industry Professional of the Year Award for the late Roger Hixson.

Roger’s contributions to emergency communications were profound. As an engineer and consultant for NENA, he played a critical role in shaping the development and implementation of modern 911 infrastructure. His work helped ensure that emergency services across the country became more accessible and efficient.

“This annual award recognizes a 911 industry professional for their leadership, professionalism, initiative, creativity, and diligence in solving critical 911 issues,” Steve said during the ceremony. “Tonight, we posthumously honor the legacy of Roger C. Hixson, whose career left a lasting impact on the field of emergency communications.”

It was an incredibly moving tribute to a leader whose influence continues to shape the future of 911.
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Celebrating the Future of NG911

To wrap up a meaningful week, RapidDeploy hosted the GTW Closing Party—an opportunity for industry leaders, first responders, and public safety professionals to come together, connect, and celebrate.

It was a night filled with engaging conversations, new partnerships, and a shared excitement for the future of emergency response. As our industry navigates the transition to NG911, events like these remind us why we do what we do: to support the incredible professionals who dedicate their lives to saving others.
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Looking Ahead

This year’s NENA 9-1-1 Goes to Washington reinforced the urgency and opportunity ahead in emergency communications. With NG911 legislation gaining momentum and public safety technology evolving at an unprecedented pace, we are committed to leading the way—together with Motorola Solutions.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to NENA, the NG911 Institute, and everyone who joined us in D.C. to advance the future of emergency response. We are more excited than ever about what’s next for RapidDeploy and the entire 911 community.

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