911 Dispatch Centers Can Take Multiple Steps To Combat Cyberattacks

There are more than 6,000 dispatch points throughout the United States, and this vital emergency service is now under constant threat, because hackers are infiltrating dispatch centers and rerouting calls away from dispatchers.

Malware and spear-phishing attacks impact emergency service dispatch centers without warning. There’s no siren going off to alert a dispatcher about a problem at their workstation, so it might seem impossible to fight back… READ MORE

Taking Public Safety Communications to the Next Level: FirstNet’s Innovation and Test Lab

Taking Public Safety Communications to the Next Level: FirstNet’s Innovation and Test Lab

By Sarah Calams

The Boulder, Colorado, lab tests FirstNet-compatible devices and applications before their deployment in the field.

Imagine a firefighter is battling a massive wildfire and she has to check in with her fellow firefighters regarding changing wind conditions. But when she attempts to contact them, the connection is virtually non-existent.

This scenario is, without a doubt, dangerous. It could also lead to life-threatening results.

That’s why when the Boulder Mountain Fire Protection District (BMFPD) — a volunteer department made up of about 60 firefighters — visited the FirstNet Authority offices in Boulder, Colorado, their purpose was to not only prove the importance of clear communication but also expose the difficulties they sometimes face while ensuring crews’ safety on scene.

This article was written by Sarah Calams and appears in efficientgov.com dated November 7, 2019.

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Driving innovation for disaster response to support America’s first responders and build resilient communities

Driving innovation for disaster response to support America’s first responders and build resilient communities

Never is the nexus of public safety response and economic impact more prevalent than during a disaster. From flooding to hurricanes and wildfires, during a disaster, it is imperative that public safety and local officials have the best tools and technologies to save lives. Having this critical response infrastructure is also instrumental in helping local economies recover and remain resilient into the future. That’s why three agencies within the U.S. Department of Commerce – the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) are working together to help foster innovations in response and resiliency technologies.

This article appears in eda.gov dated November 6, 2019.

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Public Safety Advocate: IACP, Network Interoperability, FirstNet Board

Publication of next week’s Advocate will be delayed a few days while I attend the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) annual conference/convention in Chicago beginning Saturday.

Next year I also plan to attend the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the National Sheriff’s Association (NSA) conferences. Even though I am an affiliate member of both…

A New Approach to Public Safety Engagement Focused on Roadmap Priorities

A New Approach to Public Safety Engagement Focused on Roadmap Priorities

Recently, law enforcement and fire chiefs from around the country joined the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) in Reston, Va., to help implement the recently released Roadmap and kick-off a new approach to engagements with the public safety community.

Meeting with stakeholders at the Joint Fire Services and Law Enforcement Leadership Roadmap Forum, our advocacy team zeroed in on the Voice Communications and Situational Awareness domains in the Roadmap, with discussions focusing on police and fire’s operational needs…

Young Professionals Spotlight: Leslie Corbet, Guilford Metro 9-1-1

Young Professionals Spotlight: Leslie Corbet, Guilford Metro 9-1-1

Leslie Corbett partakes in a ride-along with Climax Fire Department (NC) during her fire dispatch training.

The APCO Young Professionals Taskforce recognizes Leslie Corbett as our young professional for the month of September. Leslie is twenty-seven years old and has been an emergency communications specialist for one year with Guilford Metro 9-1-1, an agency located in Greensboro, North Carolina. Most of her career has been as a call taker, but recently she has moved into fire and law enforcement dispatching.