Public-safety reps react to apparent demise of bill with NG911 funding – Urgent Communications

Public-safety leaders today expressed disappointment that efforts to secure federal funding for next-generation 911 (NG911) deployments likely will need to begin anew after hopes to pass the $2 trillion Build Back Better bill were dashed with an announcement of opposition from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.).

Senate Democrats have been trying for months to persuade moderate Democrats Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema to back the social spending bill that initially was described as a $1.75 trillion package but has since been determined to cost hundreds of billions of dollars more. A small fraction of that total—$500 million—was slated to be used to help fund NG911 efforts that have been estimated to cost at least $10 billion to implement nationwide…

5 key strategies to ensure E911 compliance

For those who manage phone systems, a key responsibility is tracking phone locations and 911 call routing.

That task has been complicated by the rise of softphones and embedded dialers, coupled with the shift to cloud-based communications. The days of simply managing desktop telephones at fixed locations are over.

In addition, new federal regulations often supersede the patchwork of state and local laws governing 911 location management. Mobile phones add another wrinkle. Their near-ubiquity raises questions about how organizations are notified when a 911 call is placed on a personal cellphone from within an office location… READ MORE

Magen David Adom creates computer-aided dispatch system for Hatzalah South Florida

Magen David Adom creates computer-aided dispatch system for Hatzalah South Florida

Magen David Adom’s groundbreaking technology, which powers the emergency dispatching systems in Israel for medical emergencies and the National Fire Rescue Service as well as for the EMS system in the Philippines, is now being used in the United States.

The computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system developed by MDA—Israel’s national paramedic and Red Cross service—uses artificial intelligence (AI) to instantly locate and dispatch the nearest first responders and ambulances to a medical emergency…

Public Safety Advocate: Storms, Future Communications, FirstNet Gains

The only way to start this week’s Advocate is to thank all first responders, volunteers, and the many others who struggled to save lives in mid-America in the aftermath of tornados. In the evening of December 10, the longest track tornado on record traveled at least 275 miles. The many tornados in the Midwest that night took many lives, left many people injured, many were left homeless, and an unimaginable amount of property was destroyed…

FirstNet Connects First Responders After Tornado Outbreak

By Jason Porter, President, Public Sector and FirstNet, AT&T

This past weekend, severe storms and deadly tornadoes devastated the Midwest, destroying homes and demolishing city centers. And while every disaster is different, there is one constant: the brave women and men on the frontlines who respond and restore the communities they serve. From firefighters, paramedics and law enforcement to the extended public safety community on the ground, the ability to seamlessly talk with one another is critical. That’s why America’s first responders advocated for the creation of FirstNet® – the only network built with and for first responders providing them with always-on priority and true preemption capabilities.

And now, FirstNet, Built with AT&T is delivering connectivity for the first responders our communities count on the most.  READ MORE

Where do 911 fees go? Key statistics from the FCC’s annual 911 fee report (Part 2)

Each year for the past 12 years, the Federal Communications Commission has gathered information from states and territories about their 911 fee collection, distribution and general operations and put it together in a report to Congress. Usually published in early December of each year, the most recently available report from 2020 covers the calendar year from January 1- December 31 of 2019.

Here are some of the key statistics from the 2020 annual 911 fee report, related to 911 funding around the country for the more than 5,300 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) who answered more than 211.1 million 911 calls during the course of 2019… READ MORE