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News & Articles
Idaho approves $15M grant for ‘Next Generation 911’
The Idaho Public Safety Communications Commission on July 10 approved a $15 million grant to modernize the state’s emergency response system. The money will go toward moving Idaho’s decades-old analog 911 infrastructure to a secure, digital network called Next...
California’s 911 Crisis Is a Wake-Up Call for the Nation
It’s a call no one ever wants to make, but if you dial 911 you need, and have the right to expect, the system to work when every second counts. That’s why what is happening in America’s largest state should concern everyone in the nation. California’s attempt to...
Reclassifying 911: What the Enhancing First Response Act changes
The Enhancing First Response Act would recognize dispatchers’ lifesaving role and improve emergency communications infrastructure READ FULL ARTICLE
Arkansas revamps emergency communications training to enhance telecommunication services
LITTLE ROCK, AR (KATV) — Emergency communications training in Arkansas is about to embark on a revamp, in an effort to make service operations more seamless for 9-1-1 telecommunicators. Announced on September 10, it is the state's first ever online basic...
Upgraded 911 and reauthorized FirstNet among public safety officials’ tech priorities
The U.S. must upgrade its 911 emergency systems and enhance and reauthorize its dedicated public safety communications network if states and localities are to be able to respond to increasing threats, a House subcommittee heard this week.
City’s new 911, emergency prep to cost $20.7M under Fort Worth’s proposed budget (TX)
Fort Worth’s newly created Emergency Management & Communications Department is expected to operate on a $20.7 million budget, giving the city’s 911 call-taking team its own department and streamlining the city’s emergency response, officials said.
Las Vegas Planning Commission passes proposed emergency services communication … (NV)
The City of Las Vegas Planning Commission unanimously voted to pass a proposed nearly 96,000-square-foot emergency services communication center in the northwest Las Vegas valley.
With staffing shortages and forced OT, relief has arrived for Brown County 911 dispatchers (WI)
GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- After months of staffing shortages and complaints about forced overtime, relief has finally arrived for Brown County 911 dispatchers. The county has hired contract workers to help fill the void.
Bomb threat prompts evacuation of Tucumcari 911 center – (NM)
Sep. 2—TUCUMCARI — The Tucumcari Police Department, including the emergency dispatch center inside, was evacuated for about 90 minutes on Wednesday night because of a bomb threat.
NC 911 Board awards $5.7 million in grants to enhance statewide 911 system (NC)
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The N.C. 911 Board has recently awarded nearly $5.7 million toward the state's 911 system, the N.C. Department of Information Technology announced Friday.
New 911 tech means new ways to call for help, more accurate tracking for responders (VA)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - Picture this: someone lost on a trail, or a driver trapped after a crash. A call goes out and in real time, a GPS locator drops a pin on the dispatcher’s screen. “What this enhanced GPS does is it will really provide a precise location of...
Cornelius 911 center completes major tech upgrade (NC)
Leaders say this is one of a handful of 911 centers in North Carolina to feature next-generation features. CORNELIUS, N.C. — The Cornelius 911 Emergency Communications Center has completed a major technology upgrade that town leaders say places it among only a handful...
Game-changing technologies poised to reshape 911
911 and public-safety networks have entered a pivotal phase. A convergence of technological breakthroughs and regulatory momentum is redefining how emergency-communications networks will be designed, deployed, and operated. These developments aren’t merely...
Brown County’s 911 dispatcher shortage is relentless. What will it take to fix it? (WI)
For years, Brown County has struggled to hire people to answer 911 calls and coordinate responses to emergencies. Its emergency dispatch center was among many that grappled with worsened staffing shortages after the COVID-19 pandemic. But as the crisis eases...
Dispatcher over and out after 40 years on the air (OH)
CANFIELD — Cheri Smith sits at the dispatch desk at the Canfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol with a box of Cheerios nearby and 1980s music on the radio at a low volume. It’s Thursday — the day before her official retirement date — but she will work for...
Five years after a major DC 911 misfire, America’s emergency dispatch systems still falter
Billie Shepperd was planning her daughter Sheila’s 60th birthday party in June 2020 when the phone rang. She had been imagining family members traveling from Washington, DC, to celebrate at the beach with crab legs and potato salad, when she picked up to hear Maria...
Proposed wind farm projects could impact 911 service and public safety (NY)
WAMPSVILLE, NY — For the first time, Madison County leaders are linking potential 911 connectivity issues with proposed wind farms, saying the wind turbines will interfere with 911 communications. Madison County says the proposed Liberty Renewals’ Hoffman Falls Wind...
RiverCom 911 Moves Forward With Plans for New Emergency Communications Center (WA)
WENATCHEE — RiverCom 911 has received a key approval from the state’s Project Review Committee, clearing the way for the agency to move forward with planning a new emergency communications facility. The committee gave unanimous support for RiverCom to use a General Contractor/Construction Manager (GC/CM) delivery method—an approach that brings contractors into the planning process before design is finalized.RiverCom officials say this early collaboration is critical for a 911 center, where the system must function seamlessly from day one. By identifying potential issues early, GC/CM helps avoid delays, cut down on costly changes, and ensure taxpayer money is used efficiently.
County Commission approves AI automation of certain non-emergency calls | Free – Emporia Gazette (KS)
The Lyon County Commission approved the purchase of a 4-month pilot with Hyper to automate 10 non-emergency call types for a total of $16,200 to be paid from the Dispatch Contractual Services fund.The new program, developed by new San Francisco based startup Hyper, is designed to respond to calls related to utilities, parking, controlled burns, and other non-911 issues. An AI voice, customizable by gender and talking speed, will ask for information and process it, transferring the caller if needed.
Fairfax County tests AI for public safety calls, eyes expanded implementation | FFXnow (VA)
Yesterday (Tuesday) marked a major milestone in the future of Fairfax County’s emergency response: one of the agency’s first uses of artificial intelligence.
For a brief period of time that day, the county’s Department of Public Safety Communications (DPSC) tested an AI system to triage select calls for service to the non-emergency line, officials announced.
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Podcast
FirstNet and the 4.9 GHz Spectrum
This episode dives into the critical evolution of public safety communications, focusing on the recent FCC decision to establish a nationwide Band Manager framework for the 4.9 GHz spectrum, and discuss the evolution and deployment of the FirstNet System. Host Chris Tubbs interviews Chief Jeff Johnson, a leader in public safety technology and the development of FirstNet. Together, they explore the history, governance, and transformative potential of FirstNet and the 4.9 GHz spectrum in enhancing public safety operations with emerging technologies like AI, 5G, and augmented reality. The discussion emphasizes the importance of protecting and optimizing public safety spectrum, the lessons learned from past advocacy efforts, and a call to action for public safety leaders to remain engaged in ensuring the spectrum’s effective use and governance.
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Webinar
Accessing Federal Resources When an Emergency or Major Disaster Strikes
In light of the major disasters that our nation has recently experienced, PS Grants is offering this FREE webinar to review Disaster Assistance Programs and how to access them. Learn what federal funds and resources are available through Disaster Assistance, understand the process of requesting assistance, know what to expect before, during, and after, and find out who to contact for help.
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