by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 25, 2020 | Articles, Comm Center News
NPSTC committees and working groups have been busy all year discussing a variety of important topics that impact first responders and communications interoperability. Volunteer groups of subject matter experts have continued this work even as COVID-19 has shifted public safety agency priorities to deal with the pandemic. This month, NPSTC announces the publication of three new reports that deal with issues of importance to all public safety agencies. These reports assess the status of consoles that support Mission Critical Push to Talk (MCPTT), the future state of public safety broadband for EMS and communications centers, and a comprehensive overview of Public Safety IoT issues and considerations. NPSTC is also announcing an update to the COVID-19 Operations Checklist designed for public safety agencies and communications centers…
by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 21, 2020 | Articles, Comm Center News
By Tip Osterthaler, FirstNet Authority Board Chair
I am honored to have been appointed chair of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Board. As I take the helm of the Board today, I am eager to continue to drive progress for all of public safety.
I first became involved with the FirstNet Authority in 2018, joining the Board just one year after the public-private partnership with AT&T was formed. Since then, I have had the opportunity to watch the network come to life with extensive buildout and widespread adoption among public safety. As the Finance Committee Chair, I was involved in shaping some of our most important activities of the last two years – including disciplined budgets that fund our organization and guide the future of the network. The Committee also had a key role in developing the FirstNet Authority Roadmap and the first set of network investments. READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 21, 2020 | Articles, Comm Center News
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently launched a webpage to promote the rebranded Tribal Emergency Communications Program, which supports direct consultation to tribes and Alaska Native communities to strengthen public safety communications. CISA assists tribes with public safety operable and interoperable communications through advocacy and consultative…
by ECC Editor | Aug 20, 2020 | Articles, Comm Center News
The Texas Commission on State Emergency Communications (CSEC) adopted AT&T ESInet as its NextGen9-1-1 platform to transition 17 Regional Planning Commission (RPC) public safety answering points (PSAPs) to NG9-1-1. The first nine counties, which are part of the Nortex RPC, recently went live with AT&T ESInet serving nearly 80,000 Texans with a more reliable and improved 9-1-1 experience.
AT&T ESInet is built on AT&T’s IP network. The IP-based call routing service uses i3 standards from the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) to modernize legacy 9-1-1 infrastructure… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 20, 2020 | Articles, Comm Center News
There is a lot happening this month. Unfortunately, since Congress is taking its usual August break, there won’t be any further action to repeal the T-Band nor will there be any activity in Next-Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) funding. Further, there does not appear to be any progress in coordinating, funding, and finally serving many in rural America who still do not have access to broadband. Meanwhile, the FCC has turned down petitions from both the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) that call for a stay of the order issued by the FCC in April 2020 permitting secondary use of the already heavily used 6-GHz spectrum…
by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 19, 2020 | Articles
When I began my career in public safety as a front-line dispatcher in 2001, I quickly realized that my job was no longer just a “job.” It was a career that provided the opportunity to help my fellow citizens in the Augusta community. I set my sights on moving into a leadership position, where I could make an even greater impact, and began to work toward that goal.
When I moved into the sergeant role a few years later, I had my first taste of leadership. The traditional challenges that can take place when moving from colleague to boss became apparent, and I began looking into training programs to help me gain a better understanding of leadership. This was my first step in building my professional training toolkit…
