by AllThingsECC.com | May 10, 2022 | Articles, Comm Center News
Instead of dialing 911, soon you can call 988 for a mental health emergency. But will states be ready?
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline will be nationally available as 988 starting July 16, 2022, billed as the “911” for a mental health crisis. But there’s concern many states will not be ready to meet the expected increase in services, according to a recent New York Times report.
“The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is awarding nearly $105 million in grant funding, provided by the American Rescue Plan, to 54 states and territories in advance of the transition of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline from the current 10-digit number to the 988 three-digit dialing code in July,” per the United States Department of Health and Human Services press release…
by AllThingsECC.com | May 10, 2022 | Articles, Comm Center News
AT&T said Tuesday a new nationwide service will route 911 calls from its wireless subscribers to the closest dispatch center.
Why it matters: 911 calls from wireless phones are typically routed based on the closest cell tower, which means that sometimes callers are transferred from one dispatch center to another when they seek help, introducing potential delay.
What’s happening: The new service will more quickly and accurately identify the location of a wireless 911 call and deliver it to the correct call center, AT&T said in a statement…
by ECC Editor | May 9, 2022 | Articles, Comm Center News
By James Careless
It was the kind of funding news that many first responders were hoping for. On February 22, 2022, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed using revenues from future spectrum auctions to fund Next Gen (NG) 911 rollouts across the United States. She made the proposal during a speech at Washington’s National Press Club to mark FirstNet’s 10th anniversary.
“Historically, our nation’s 911 systems have been updated through fees on bills and a mix of town, county, and state funding measures. But as with first responder communications, it’s time for a nationwide, digital upgrade,” said Rosenworcel. “Once again, we would be using the auction of public airwaves to support public safety. And the funds would flow to every state and jurisdiction with 911 call centers to help make next-generation 911 a reality nationwide… READ MORE
by ECC Editor | May 7, 2022 | Articles, Comm Center News
In 2021, NBC Washington reported that nearly 100,000 emergency 911 calls in the D.C. region were sent to the wrong call centers or required transfers to reach the correct jurisdiction due to outdated technology.
Those 100,000 calls represented 100,000 lives possibly facing life-threatening situations. Over the years, the country has felt the adverse effects of 911 call centers using antiquated technology.
Service issues, faulty phone software, overwhelming call volumes and even hackers have demonstrated that older systems are vulnerable. Our communities need efficient, responsive and updated technologies… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | May 6, 2022 | Articles, Comm Center News
From April 24 – 29, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) hosted JamX 22, an exercise to counter electronic jamming at White Sands Missile Range with federal, state, local and industry participants. Building on the lessons learned from past JamX exercises in 2016 and 2017, S&T and CISA have partnered on research, technology developments, and new training to increase federal and first responder resilience to signal jamming threats…
by AllThingsECC.com | May 5, 2022 | Articles, Comm Center News
During its quarterly meeting May 4, the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) approved reinvestment into the FirstNet network that will help improve indoor coverage for first responders.
At the meeting in New Hampshire, the board approved an investment to expand services for network coverage via small-cell technologies. The investment aims to increase FirstNet coverage where public-safety agencies operate indoors, such as police headquarters, fire stations, emergency communication centers (ECCs), and other critical sites and field locations…
