Public Safety Advocate: UK Public-Safety Broadband Network Update

Public Safety Advocate: UK Public-Safety Broadband Network Update

The United Kingdom press and some in the United States announced this week that the UK LTE broadband network for public safety that was to have been operational this year will not be ready for prime time until 2024 or 2025. Why is there a delay, when will it finally become live, and what will it offer the UK’s public-safety agencies?

First estimates for network operation were that the network would be ready in 2016, and then 2019. Both dates were missed and the Home Office signed an extension to continue to use the Tetra Airwave system with Motorola Solutions until 2022

NICE Announces the 2020 PSAPs’ Finest Award Winners Honoring Dedicated Emergency Communications Professionals

HOBOKEN, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–NICE (Nasdaq: NICE) has announced the winners of its 2020 PSAPs’ Finest Awards. Now in its fifteenth year, NICE’s PSAPs’ Finest Awards recognize the dedicated individuals and team stand-outs in public safety emergency communications. Awards are presented annually to winners in the following categories: Director, Line Supervisor, Technician, Trainer, Telecommunicator, Innovator and PSAP of the Year. PSAPs’ Finest winners are selected by an independent panel of volunteer judges from the public safety community who evaluate nominees based on their accomplishments, skills, knowledge and dedication… READ MORE

U.S. Coast Guard is “Always Ready” with FirstNet

By Tiffany Perry, Senior Public Safety Advisor, First Responder Network Authority

One of our nation’s oldest military branches and the nation’s premier maritime first responder, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) plays an essential role in maintaining the safety and security of our nation’s coasts, ports, and waterways. USCG professionals provide maritime support to communities in emergency situations, ensure safe and lawful commerce, interdict illegal drugs, protect the maritime environment, perform daring search and rescue (SAR) missions for those in distress, and place themselves on the front lines during hurricane season. The Coast Guard’s mission-ready workforce of more than 56,000 active duty, reserve, and civilian members tirelessly works to strengthen our nation and protect our communities. True to their motto, Semper Paratus, the USCG is always ready with FirstNet.

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‘9-1-1. Please Leave a Message’ (OR)

The residents of Portland are getting a look at the future of police services, and response time in Portland. It’s not going to be pretty, judging from this Oregonian headline:
“Intruder with knife, boy being held: No Portland police response for 1 hour, 36 minutes.”

The incident that the headline refers to occurred as dueling protestors were engaged with each other in downtown Portland. They numbered in the hundreds with only 30 officers on hand to deal with them, and another incident in East Precinct that required multiple officers… READ MORE

FirstNet Provides Continuity for Washington DC Emergency Call Center During Pandemic

By Lori Stone, Senior Public Safety Advisor, First Responder Network Authority

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck our Nation, first responders began to face a new set of challenges that changed operations for many public safety agencies and call centers. The District of Columbia’s emergency communications center, the Office of Unified Communications (OUC) quickly made accommodations to support remote call taking to keep call takers safe while continuing to be a one-stop shop for emergency communications in the Nation’s capital. READ MORE