by AllThingsECC.com | Sep 17, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
After the article about the lack of data interoperability across the FirstNet (Built with AT&T) network appeared last week in the Advocate, I received comments indicating that serious work has indeed been undertaken to address this issue. I hope to be able to provide more information in coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been busy. After its September meeting, it appears that a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) for the 4.9-GHz spectrum will be released for comments. The FCC will also act on the 6-GHz sharing of licensed microwave with unlicensed Wi-Fi 6 users…
by ECC Editor | Sep 16, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
A next-generation 911 would allow the nation’s 6,000 911 centers to accept texts, videos and photos.
The big picture: U.S. emergency communications have remained stubbornly analog, but Congress is about to take another run at dragging 911 into the digital age.
Why it matters: Giving people ways to reach 911 beyond voice calls could save citizens’ and first responders’ lives.
Driving the news: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), co-chair of the Senate Next Generation 9-1-1 Caucus, and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced a bill Thursday that would create a $10 billion federal grant program for upgrades to the nation’s 911 centers… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | Sep 15, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
Imagine this: you’re outside hanging around with a friend or a loved one you know happens to struggle with mental illness or addiction. They’re having what appears to be a mental breakdown and have told you that they are hallucinating and that they’re thinking of killing themselves.
Your first thought is to call 911. You explain the situation to the dispatcher and ask if there’s any way they could send someone to help. The operator says they’ll see what they can do and stays on the phone with you.
So, who do you think shows up? …
by AllThingsECC.com | Sep 15, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
Following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, federal and state governments invested billions of dollars on preparedness efforts within the first responder community to respond to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) events. As time passed, there was greater realization that WMD incidents were less of a threat than conventional firearms and explosives. The intricate, often unrealistic, CBRN scenarios were replaced with more representative and realistic examples of attacks on the civilian populace utilizing readily available materials and weapons. These attacks were occurring overseas in countries with internal or external conflicts and in the Afghanistan and Iraq war theaters.
These events, commonly utilizing a variety of violent modalities, came to be categorized as complex coordinated terrorist attacks (CCTA) – a bit of a misnomer, as these events, at least domestically, are not always coordinated and not always committed by “terrorists”. CCTA has an excellent ‘ring’ to it, but exactly how can jurisdictions, agencies and communities really prepare for this general, nondescript threat? The term CCTA is just too broad and open-ended; a better descriptor for the various threats we face is the term “high threat”…
by ECC Editor | Sep 15, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
House Republicans tried unsuccessfully on Monday to penalize communities that reduce police funding by taking away money in President Joe Biden’s proposed $3.5 trillion Build Back Better investment package intended for upgrading local 911 services.
They then claimed that by opposing the proposed amendment, Democrats were refusing to support law enforcement.
The attempt came during a markup of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s portion of the investment package. The legislation includes $10 billion, to be spent over five years, for community grants to implement, operate, and maintain the Next Generation 911 system… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | Sep 14, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
APCO’s Spectrum Management Division (AFC) now offers Engineering and Licensing services for microwave systems in support of Public Safety Communications. The new services generally consist of the licensing of new, or modifications of existing Point-to-Point (PtP) radio links and Multiple Access Systems (MAS). Furthermore, an applicant may contact ACPO to re-license an expired call sign, or in some cases, we can petition the FCC for reconsideration to avoid cancellation of a license under certain circumstances. Additional services include Path Design, Path Status/Frequency Protection monitoring for point-to-point links, and assistance with the required FAA Studies and FCC Tower Registration…
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