BELLEFONTE — Centre County has secured $1 million in federal funds to begin modernizing the emergency radios that connect first responders in the field with the county’s 911 dispatch system.
The county says the broader replacement effort will cost about $4.5 million and is appealing to its municipalities and state legislators to help close the remaining $3.5 million gap.
For a system or product to be preferred by its users, it has to offer unique features that are not provided by its competitors.
Take wireless broadband communications for first responders—the police, fire EMS, and other public safety agencies that protect the public and save lives. In this area, FirstNet is the preferred network for first responders, precisely because it has unique features that no other carrier can offer.
BERGENFIELD, NJ — Today, February 2, 2026, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced that he successfully clawed back $1,031,000 in new federal funding to upgrade and modernize Bergenfield’s 911 emergency communications systems, strengthening public safety while delivering real tax relief for local families.
The federal investment Gottheimer secured will complete critical upgrades to Bergenfield’s emergency communications infrastructure, including new, state-of-the-art portable radios and a modern “simulcast” system that allows police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and emergency management personnel to communicate clearly and seamlessly across coverage areas when seconds matter most. The upgraded system will improve coordination during emergencies and major incidents, helping reduce outages, eliminate delays, and ensure faster, more effective responses across Bergenfield.
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MURPHYSBORO, Ill. (WSIL) — Jackson County has partnered with CivicPlus® to implement a new mass notification software designed to improve how the county communicates urgent and routine information to residents.
The CivicPlus Mass Notification System will allow Jackson County officials to distribute emergency alerts, warnings, instructions, and general communications through multiple channels, including email, text messages, and voicemail. The system is intended to provide residents with timely, actionable information during emergencies, delivered through their preferred method of communication.
Lawmakers in Congress have taken their first tentative steps towards reauthorizing authority for the nation’s dedicated public safety communications network ahead of its sunset in 2027.
Advocates had already started gathering momentum towards reauthorizing the First Responder Network Authority, the dedicated communications network known as FirstNet. The effort has already received support from public safety officials via a joint letter and prior congressional testimony, while the National Association of State Chief Information Officers included it as a federal advocacy priority for 2026.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an agency within the Department of Commerce, appears to be pursuing a coup to take control over the FirstNet Authority. I have been informed that draft legislative language has been circulating that would materially alter FirstNet’s governance structure. Notably, credible reporters have contacted individuals for comment on legislation that those individuals had not seen—suggesting that information has been selectively shared outside stakeholder channels.
