by AllThingsECC.com | Jun 10, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
Representatives of three organizations associated with 911 expressed some optimism that ongoing “discussions” between could lead to broader consensus on the language that should be included in any legislation to provide $15 billion in federal funds to accelerate the deployment of next-generation 911 (NG911) across the United States.
Personnel from the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO), the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), and the National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA) made the statements in response to questions about NG911 funding during a webinar last week hosted by the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA)…
by AllThingsECC.com | Jun 8, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
Thirteen cities have completed an eight-week “policy-sprint” to develop programs to create an emergency response that assigns civilian mental health counselors to respond to 911 calls, CNN reports.
The Alternative Dispatch Programs, developed by Everytown For Gun Safety and What Works Cities, is aimed at reducing the burden of police who ordinarily respond to such calls. Organizers say it will help save lives, and save cities money.
“Not everyone has the perfect answer but having conversations, finding possible ways to work through this, is the start,” said Naureen Kabir, a senior policy adviser at Everytown, a gun violence prevention group…
by AllThingsECC.com | Jun 7, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
The nation’s move to the next generation of 911 technology has made strides over the past year, but industry experts said during an online event Friday that considerable work is still needed in securing sustainable funding from Congress and establishing standards, particularly to secure the new, IP-based systems.
Recent developments affecting next-generation 911 include an announcement this week by Jessica Rosenworcel, acting chair of the Federal Communications Commission, that the FCC has secured agreements with the nation’s three largest wireless carriers — AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon — to begin delivering vertical location data nationwide. The companies have agreed to immediately begin providing 911 centers nationwide with what the industry calls “z-axis” data, intended to help first responders more quickly locate callers in multi-story buildings…
by AllThingsECC.com | Jun 7, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
FCC Commissioners Brendan Carrr and Nathan Simington say the agency is letting wireless carriers off the hook over 911 vertical location obligations after agreements with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon were announced Thursday.
Vertical location, or z-axis, data provided to dispatchers is meant to help emergency responders find wireless 911 callers more quickly when they’re located in multi-story buildings like apartments or offices…
by AllThingsECC.com | Jun 4, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
June 03, 2021 – A new NIST report sheds light on the role of mobile device biometrics for authentication to provide first responders immediate access to sensitive data, as an increasing number of public safety organizations adopt mobile devices to increase access to data.
“Public safety organizations face technology challenges that hinder their ability to accomplish their missions,” according to the report. “These professionals… need immediate access to critical information from the wide variety of systems technology available… to make the best possible decisions and protect themselves and the public.”
“Hand in hand with access challenges is the imperative to ensure robust internal controls on security,” it continued. “To address these challenges, all PSOs need to improve their identity, credential, and access management (ICAM) capabilities…
by AllThingsECC.com | Jun 4, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
(CNN) — More than a dozen cities are developing “alternative” or “co-response” programs to minimize or eliminate the role of police officers responding to 911 calls involving mental health, homelessness, or substance abuse.
Thirteen cities just finished an eight-week “policy sprint,” coordinated by advocacy groups Everytown For Gun Safety and What Works Cities. The goal was for cities to develop pilot programs or to nudge cities along that have already explored this model of 911 response. A handful of others are testing out programs on their own…
