by AllThingsECC.com | Oct 1, 2021 | Comm Center News
“We don’t just dispatch police cars and fire trucks. We don’t just answer 911 calls. We ensure the safety, service and security of your communities.”
That’s what Jay Somerville shares about the devoted 911 dispatchers working at the Northwest Regional Emergency Communications Center, known as NRECC, headquartered at the Dublin Justice Center. As the center’s bureau commander, Somerville points out that the public might not know exactly what dispatchers do. Communications technicians, as they’re known at NRECC, are the “first first-responders” for someone seeking help, he says. Taking 911 calls, being a calm voice, and sending out the appropriate team of first responders to a person’s exact location is the fast-paced, decisive business of dispatching…
by AllThingsECC.com | Oct 1, 2021 | Comm Center News
Emergency 911 calls in Little Elm are now being routed to a new dispatch center. Previously, they were routed to the Denton County Sheriff’s Office.
Little Elm Communications Director Erin Mudie confirmed that the new dispatch center will service both Little Elm and Denton, where the call center is located. Mudie said Little Elm will have one dedicated emergency dispatcher for Little Elm Police Department calls and another for Little Elm Fire Department calls.
While Little Elm emergency calls taken from the Denton County Sheriff’s Office had to share a channel with those of other cities, fire and police calls for the town will each have their own dedicated channels…
by AllThingsECC.com | Oct 1, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
— Infrastructure latest: Congress averted a government shutdown Thursday, but House lawmakers are expected to keep wrangling over the bipartisan infrastructure package today.
— Deadlocked again: The Senate has confirmed FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, meaning the FTC will once again be split along party lines.
— Reality check: Another “Big Tech” hearing has come and gone. Will it be enough for lawmakers to take action against the companies?
IT’S FRIDAY, OCT. 1. WELCOME TO MORNING TECH. I’m your host, Benjamin Din. You know it’s October when FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr shares his ranking of the worst Halloween candies. What do you think? I’d say it’s pretty spot on…
by AllThingsECC.com | Oct 1, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
The Federal Communications Commission is taking a new look at the spectrum needs of public safety and the internet of things, and the agency officially rescinded rules passed under the Trump administration that would have allowed state-by-state leasing of 50 megahertz of spectrum at 4.9 GHz.
Those rules had been stayed in June of this year. The background here is that in the fall of 2020, the FCC voted along party lines to expand the use of the 4.9 GHz band, over objections from public safety users. The 4.9 GHz spectrum, which consists of 50 megahertz (4.940-4.990 GHz), was designated for exclusive use by public safety for fixed and mobile services back in the early 2000s. That spectrum was allowed to be shared with non-traditional public safety responders. Under the Trump administration and then-FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, the FCC voted to drop the requirement that the spectrum be used for public safety-related activities…
by AllThingsECC.com | Oct 1, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
An Uninterrupted Lifeline
Radio communications link emergency responders to enhanced systems
For a first responder rushing
into a building emergency,
losing communication with
their teams inside or outside
of the building can be
terrifying. In fact, according to an IAFC
(International Association of Fire Chiefs)
2017 survey by Safer Buildings Coalition,
94% of surveyed first responders say
reliable in-building communications is
critical or frequently important during
emergencies.1,2
Yet, 98.5% report dead spots in
buildings, and 56% have experienced
a communications failure over the last
two-year period.1,2 These dead spots and
failures not only impact communication
but directly affect first responders’
safety and, ultimately, the safety of the
individuals they’re trying to help—as on
9/11, when firefighters and police officers
could not properly communicate with
each other in the World Trade Center…
