‘We should have answers’: Nebraska senators dialing up legislation after 911 outages

LINCOLN, Neb. —

Nebraska senators are ready to dial up new legislation after statewide 911 outages downed phone lines for operators at call centers.

Over the past three to four months, the Nebraska Public Service Commission says it has sought to determine the cause and scope of two widespread outages. State senators say the results will help guide the response to future disruptions at the hands of technology.

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Navajo Nation to Boost Broadband Connectivity Using NTIA TBCP Grant

At about 27,000 square miles covering parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, the Navajo Nation is one of the largest native reservations in the United States. Approximately 180,000 Navajo (out of a total population of 400,000) live on Diné Bikéyah, or Navajoland. This comes out to a population average of just under seven people per square mile.

Because the Navajo Nation covers such a large area with a comparatively small population, providing adequate communications for 911, voice, and internet access is a real challenge. 

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New Bill Would Reduce Responsibilities Of D.C.’s Embattled 911 Agency

A new D.C. Council bill would transfer some 911 dispatching responsibilities away from the troubled Office of Unified Communications and back to the D.C. fire department. The bill, which Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau unveiled Tuesday, was announced along with another measure that would increase financial rewards for people who come forward with information about homicides.

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