More 911 dispatchers are working remotely from home.
In an unassuming co-working space in Person County, Conrad Shadel is answering 911 calls and dispatching police, fire and EMS — thousands of miles away.
ORLANDO—Migrating public-safety answering points (PSAPs) to an IP-based next-generation 911 (NG911) platform is challenging and can include setbacks, leaders of two high-profile NG911 deployment efforts in the states of California and Texas said during an IWCE 2024 conference session.
Dispatchers are often tasked with helping people in crisis — from fires to heart attacks to acts of violence. But longtime Powell Police Department dispatcher Bobbie Colvin says the hardest part of the job is being “only a voice.” While they send officers and other first responders to the scene of an emergency, dispatchers themselves must remain at their posts and wonder about the fate of those on the other end of the line.
“I hope by inviting a current 911 dispatcher, I am able to bring awareness to this important issue and my bill, the 911 Saves Act to finally give them the recognition and resources they need and deserve,” Rep. Norma Torres said
“No matter the timing, one thing is clear—we let down many of our customers, including many of you and your families. For that, we apologize.”
In the letter released on Sunday, Stankey noted that AT&T’s restoration efforts on Feb. 22 prioritized service on the FirstNet nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) that the carrier has been building and maintaining since March 2017.
