by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 5, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
With EMMA, public safety responders get emergency event and threat information quickly and efficiently — ensuring that first responders have critical, decision-making information as soon as it is available.
EMMA (Emergency Management Mobile Application), developed and supported by Think Safe, Inc. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a cross-platform patented software solution with alerting, communication, and management features…
by ECC Editor | Aug 4, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
Federal funding to accelerate deployment of IP-based next-generation 911 (NG911) technology is not included in the bipartisan infrastructure bill introduced in the U.S. Senate, according to the text of the massive $1.2 trillion spending package that was released yesterday.
Many in the public-safety community have been anticipating the language in the infrastructure bill, in hopes that it would include funding to implement NG911 in public-safety answering points (PSAPs) across the country. In March, a Democrat-led U.S. House infrastructure proposal called for $15 billion for NG911, but none of the subsequent infrastructure proposals—from Republicans, the White House or this latest bipartisan Senate bill—has included any mention of NG911 funding… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 4, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
Wireless carriers and public-safety organizations weighed in on the FCC’s proposal for changing its rules governing notification of disruptions to 9-1-1 service to public-safety answering points (PSAPs).
In April, the FCC released a third notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposing changes to its notification requirements. Those changes included harmonizing PSAP outage notifications, mandating the delivery of specific information, requiring carriers to notify consumers of 9-1-1 outages and establishing a timeframe for notification of PSAPs.
Telecommunications service providers and the organizations representing them said that they support the FCC’s goal of improving outage notifications to PSAPs but expressed concerns about several of the proposed rules including the timeframe for providing notice of an outage to PSAPs and a requirement to notify customers of 9-1-1 outages….
by ECC Editor | Aug 2, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
It’s a terrifying scenario, it’s 2:37 AM, you’re asleep in your own bed and suddenly you’re awakened by sound, a criminal has broken into your home. You pick up your cell phone and dial 9-1-1, the operator answers, you’re frightened and trying to be quiet so the criminal doesn’t hear you. “I’m at 1808 Dillon Ave” you whisper – “you’re at 1868 Dillan correct” the 9-1-1 operator says – “just hurry” you say in a panicked whisper.
In 2019 there was a 9-1-1 call and 15-year-old Dennis King died because police were mistakenly sent to 3356 N. 10th Street instead of 3356 N. 12th Street. As crime rates across the country rise an increasing number of Americans are coming to the realization of a serious problem, when you call 9-1-1 from a cell phone they do not know you’re location; the best they can do is to narrow your location down to an area between 25,000 square feet and 27,000,000 square feet… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 2, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
More often than not, an experience that involves interaction with a 911 dispatcher is often a part of someone’s “worst day” ever. Constantly on the receiving end of calls from persons experiencing emergency situations, that “worst day” reality is experienced ten fold by dispatchers themselves and is repeated day in and day out.
In their daily responsibilities, the critical incident stress that dispatchers experience is a well documented contributor to staff turnover experienced by communications centers across the country. Because of this, the need to create environments that assist in easing stress and promoting wellbeing for personnel has grown in awareness…
by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 1, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
In-building coverage is a significant challenge for first-responder emergency communications, according to an International Fire Chiefs Association report based on a Safer Buildings Coalition survey conducted in 2018. According to the report, 98% of emergency responders said that they were having problems with their communication because of dead spots in a building, while 56% said they were experiencing complete communication failures at sites.
There are several factors that cause these in-building communications difficulties for public safety, beginning with the reality that many buildings prevent the receipt or transmission of LMR (Land Mobile Radio) and FirstNet messages, based on construction elements and/or building configuration. Cellular and LMR towers may do an excellent job at transporting the signal, but building materials like rebar, cement, brick, LEED glass, and metal can prevent the signal from reaching a first responder’s device…
