Happy New Year iCERT Members!
I hope you all had an enjoyable holiday season as we wrapped up 2023. This year looks to be another great year for iCERT, but first, we wanted to share a few highlights from this past year. iCERT enjoyed success in 2023 while also continuing to grow and build in many areas. As we begin 2024, we will continue to build upon our successes.
Throughout 2023, we engaged with iCERT members in many ways, ranging from our two successful member meetings (our virtual Cybersecurity focused meeting in May and in-person in DC in November) to our increasingly popular iCERT happy hours at the IWCE, NENA, and APCO conferences. Our sponsorship program continued to see growth in 2023. Last year more iCERT member companies saw the value generated through sponsorship of iCERT events. This support will be key to iCERT’s ability to continue delivering top quality member value and content in 2024 and beyond. There will be great opportunities throughout 2024 to support iCERT events. Stay tuned for announcements soon regarding details about our 2024 member meetings (Hint: LA in May and DC in November/ December). Additionally, iCERT’s committees and work groups continue to thrive and engage in productive work, serving as thought leaders on behalf of the association. However, as always, new members for committees are always welcome. Currently, there are opportunities for additional committee members on the Marketing Committee, Member Meeting Planning Committee, as well as on the Innovation & Technology Committee. If you or a colleague are interested, please reach out and we’ll be happy to connect you to the respective Committee or Work Group leaders.
On the advocacy front, 2023 saw iCERT continue to grow its profile in Washington and strengthen its presence with key federal agencies. On Capitol Hill, we continued to make progress on our top priority of securing funding for full deployment of NG911. iCERT was a key player in helping unanimously pass the bipartisan Spectrum Auction Reauthorization Act (which included up to $15 Billion in funding for NG911, and memorialized consensus language) through the House Energy & Commerce Committee. Additionally, throughout 2023 we engaged and coordinated with more iCERT members, as well as external partners alike, on legislative and regulatory priorities. Specifically, we continued to maintain productive working relationships with the Public Safety NG911 Coalition, NENA, NASNA, and APCO, and worked to grow the list of partner organizations to include county and municipal groups, as well as utility regulators and others. This show of unity has been hugely important on this key issue which we all share as a top priority. iCERT also increased its advocacy at the FCC, especially on issues related to NG911. We begin 2024 with momentum and a renewed effort to push forward, as we expect this year to be action packed, not only potentially on iCERT’s issues, but most certainly with tangential issues, as well as the elections. We will be providing updates as developments warrant, but if you or your company would like to be more engaged in our advocacy efforts, please reach out to either Don Brittingham or myself. Lastly, make plans to join iCERT in Washington, DC for the annual 911 Goes To Washington fly-in, the week of February 26th. Last year we had a solid showing of iCERT member companies walking the halls of Congress and this year we want to do better. More information will be forthcoming as we get closer.
Last, but not least iCERT’s first major event of 2024 will take place during the 2024 IWCE show in Orlando in late March. In addition to this year’s first of our very popular iCERT Happy Hours, iCERT along with over a dozen of our member companies will be co-hosting the PSAP of the Future, experience. The PSAP of the Future will be an immersive 40x20 exhibit space located at the center of the IWCE show floor, which will take visitors through a vivid NG911 experience. Make plans to join iCERT in Orlando for IWCE. Details regarding the iCERT Happy Hour will be forthcoming soon.
Again, Happy New Year and thanks for your continued support of iCERT. We look forward to continuing to work with each of you and to making 2024 another great year for iCERT!
Take care,
George Kelemen