Call to Action
FOP Call to Action: Critical Officer Safety Issue, Pass a Clean FirstNet Reauthorization
Tomorrow, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a markup on H.R. 7386, the “First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act,” which would reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) through 2037. FirstNet is an indispensable, nationwide public safety communications network trusted by public safety for its proven reliability and resiliency. The legislation, however, proposes several changes that will hinder FirstNet’s primary objectives and introduce uncertainties that will jeopardize emergency operations, community protection, and public safety.
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Illinois State Police making 911 upgrades
Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The Illinois State Police (ISP) announced an upgrade to all 169 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) throughout Illinois. All 169 locations are now powered through Next Generation 911 (NG911). The agency says this new update...
A host of questions: Town eyes 911 study with Lincoln, Carlisle – The Concord Bridge (MA)
This comes just over 18 months after an agreement with Acton collapsed. Concord officials are optimistic about their new proposal even as Carlisle leaders hedge their bets.
“This is very good,” Concord Town Manager Kerry Lafleur said as she relayed Carlisle’s decision to the Select Board.
Cyberattack Hits Emergency Communications Center in Pepperell, MA | Firehouse
PEPPERELL — Officials in member towns of the Patriot Regional Emergency Communications Center are reporting a cyberattack that appears to have disrupted the phone communications of the regional dispatch center and the public safety departments of multiple towns.Officials in the towns of Pepperell, Dunstable, Townsend and Ashby released separate statements Wednesday saying the non-emergency and business phone lines for their various police, fire and EMS departments, as well as PRECC itself, were down as a result of a cyberattack discovered Tuesday morning.
Frost & Sullivan: AT&T earns the 2026 US Next Generation 9-1-1 Market Leadership …
As the market leader in NG911, AT&T has upgraded 1,750 emergency call centers nationwide, enhancing safety for more than 88 million people
SAN ANTONIO, March 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Frost & Sullivan is pleased to announce that AT&T has been named the 2026 market leader in the Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) for the eighth consecutive year. AT&T’s Emergency Services IP Network (AT&T ESInet™) leads the market in advancing industry transformation that enhances public safety by supporting a more diverse set of IP-based communications during emergencies. This recognition highlights AT&T’s consistent leadership in delivering reliable, standards-based NG911 solutions while strengthening public safety communications across the United States.
First responders urge action on Brown County 911 dispatch staffing, safety concerns – WTAQ (WI)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Employees at Brown County’s 911 dispatch center continue to express concerns about working conditions, saying the way the dispatch center is currently operating is unsafe.Now, Brown County first responders and unions who represent first responders are asking for changes.
How FirstNet Enhances Interoperability for Emergency Communications
Effective emergency response relies on the ability of different agencies to communicate seamlessly with each other. In the past, this was a real problem due to public safety agencies using a variety of proprietary land mobile radios (LMRs) that couldn’t talk to each...
Dispatcher Facing Felony Charges for Sharing Info (PA)
CLEARFIELD – Charges have been filed against a former Clearfield County 911 dispatcher for sharing information from the county’s computer system and for her participation in drug sales. READ FULL ARTICLE
Inside 911 Debate: Rural responders challenge local dispatch proposal (ND)
A dispute over the future of emergency dispatch services in McKenzie County has exposed growing tensions among local emergency responders, county officials and law enforcement.
FOP Call to Action: Critical Officer Safety Issue, Pass a Clean FirstNet Reauthorization
Tomorrow, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a markup on H.R. 7386, the “First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act,” which would reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) through 2037. FirstNet is an indispensable, nationwide public safety communications network trusted by public safety for its proven reliability and resiliency. The legislation, however, proposes several changes that will hinder FirstNet’s primary objectives and introduce uncertainties that will jeopardize emergency operations, community protection, and public safety.
Boone County breaks ground on new emergency center – (MO)
The Boone County Emergency Management and the Public Safety Communications Center project has begun, with county officials marking it with a groundbreaking ceremony on March 18. Situated on the Boone County Public Safety Campus at the intersection of...
Woman froze to death due to delayed 911 response (AK)
An Alaska woman froze to death while stranded outside in temperatures between 17 and 28 degrees Fahrenheit — with nearly 3 feet of snow on the ground — after a 911 dispatcher failed to send help for more than an hour, a lawsuit says. Alecia Lindsay, 31, was "crawling...
Emergency Services Seek Relief: St. Mary’s 911 Center Turns To Contract Dispatchers Amid Burnout (MD)
LEONARDTOWN, Md. — An agency built to respond to emergencies is now seeking urgent help of its own. At the March 17 meeting of the St. Mary’s County Commissioners, Department of Emergency Services Director Jennifer Utz outlined a growing crisis inside the county’s 911...
Understanding FirstNet Coverage Areas for Public Safety Agencies
FirstNet is a secure, nationwide broadband network built specifically for public safety agencies. It provides them with priority service and the widest coverage in the United States. How is FirstNet cell coverage different from a regular cell phone plan?
Brown County dispatcher resigns during committee meeting as concerns grow over 911 center (WI)
BROWN COUNTY, Wis. (WBAY) - A Brown County dispatcher resigned Wednesday during a Public Safety Committee meeting, citing working conditions inside the county’s 911 center. “My resignation comes with extreme heartbreak as this was my passion and was meant to be a...
Boone County breaks ground on new, $10 million emergency operations facility (MO)
Boone County has broken ground on a $10 million facility that will combine the 911 center and emergency management operations, marking a milestone in the future of local emergency response. Kevin Vogelphol, Boone County Emergency Management Director, expressed...
Public safety advocates, workers testify for 911 call center reforms at DC Council hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. (7News) — The D.C. Council Judiciary and Public Safety Committee is hearing public and government testimony on several bills today, including two bills concerning the District's 911 call center. D.C.'s Office of Unified Communications (OUC) is home to...
Klobuchar, Budd Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Deploy Next Generation 9-1-1 Systems
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Ted Budd (R-NC), co-chairs of the Senate Next Generation 9-1-1 Caucus, and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced bipartisan legislation to accelerate federal efforts to modernize the nation’s 9-1-1...
Lawmakers pressured on 911 upgrade as Cal OES scraps new $450 million system (CA)
California lawmakers are facing increased pressure to provide more oversight to the governor's Office of Emergency Services, which has been working for nearly a decade to upgrade the state's 911 system.
Lyon County Commission approves $3 mi (KS)
Lyon County Emergency Communications Center Director Roxanne Van Gundy called her appearance before Lyon County Commissioners Thursday morning a “surreal day.” Van Gundy’s appearance was in part to seek approval of bids from Evergreen Design/Build and Kansas Security...
Catalyst Communications to Integrate Dispatch Platform with AT&T FirstNet Fusion MCX Ecosystem
One week before exhibiting at IWCE 2026 Catalyst CEO Robin Grier announced in an interview with Donny Jackson, editor or Urgentcomm, that interoperability solutions provider Catalyst Communications has confirmed that its Catalyst Dispatch platform will be...
Reauthorization SurveyMORE>
PSBTA Releases Survey on First Responder Support for FirstNet Reauthorization
New Survey: First Responders Overwhelmingly Support Reauthorization of FirstNet
A new bipartisan national survey commissioned by the Public Safety Broadband Technology Association finds near- unanimous support among first responders for reauthorizing the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority)– the agency overseeing America’s dedicated public safety broadband network.
PETITIONSMORE>
Congress should reauthorize the FirstNet Authority now.
Support the reauthorization of the FirstNet Authority to preserve public safety’s network
PSBTA UpdatesMORE>
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.
LISTEN TO PODCAST
Public Sector GrantsMORE>
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.
REGISTER
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