by AllThingsECC.com | May 19, 2018 | Comm Center News
The state is close to its goal of 100 percent availability of the service across all counties.
SOURCE: Statescoop
DATE: May 18, 2018
For Iowans who find themselves in an emergency, the option to text 911 rather than call is now available for most of the state, the governor’s office recently announced.
As of April, 97 of the state’s 99 counties have 911 call centers capable of receiving text messages, according to officials. Two counties, Pottawattamie and Scott, do not yet have text-capable 911 centers, but the state has a goal of reaching 100 percent availability that it is now working towards.
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by AllThingsECC.com | May 4, 2018 | Articles, Comm Center News
By Michael Varney, First Responder Network Authority, Region 1 Lead
In the five years since the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing took place, Bostonians have remained true to the phrase “Boston Strong” – the two-word phrase that united the city and circled the globe in the aftermath of the senseless tragedy.
On that infamous day, thousands of spectators and residents can recall reaching for their mobile devices to frantically locate family and friends. Unfortunately, the high call volume saturated the local cellular networks causing signal delays and failed calls rendering mobile phones nearly useless. For area first responders on duty that day the consequences of poor network coverage and capacity was more dire — the lack of a reliable network delayed the ability to share the images and videos that ultimately helped to identify the alleged perpetrators.
Looking back on 2013, we learned that video and data changed the communications landscape for emergency response. As security preparations were underway for the 2018 Boston Marathon, FirstNet, the first nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety, was in place to bolster emergency communications for first responders.
This article appears on firstnet.gov dated May 2, 2018
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by AllThingsECC.com | Apr 30, 2018 | Articles, Comm Center News
By William Schrier, Senior Advisor
A number of public safety agencies are adopting FirstNet and gaining capabilities they have never had before. These FirstNet trailblazers are exploring the benefits of smart devices powered by a dedicated, high-speed wireless broadband connection. Capturing and sharing real-time data, live streaming, and incident mapping are just a few FirstNet-powered capabilities they’re incorporating into emergency response.
To provide public safety with the modern, lifesaving technology it needs, the First Responder Network Authority and AT&T are working to bring public safety’s innovation needs to the attention of app and technology developers. We are also helping public safety realize the benefits of integrating mobile data and devices in their day-to-day services. The key question is-
How can mobile data and devices improve emergency response?
This opinion article appears on firstnet.gov dated April 19, 2018.
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by AllThingsECC.com | Mar 30, 2018 | Comm Center News
SOURCE: Mission Critical Communications
DATE: March 27, 2018
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 recently passed by Congress and signed by the president includes two 9-1-1-related mandates for the FCC.
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by AllThingsECC.com | Mar 22, 2018 | Comm Center News
SOURCE: Mission Critical Communications
DATE: March 21, 2018
Four public-safety associations urged the leaders of the House and Senate to include a line item in the current omnibus funding package for a significant federal grant program to modernize the nation’s 9-1-1 systems.
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by AllThingsECC.com | Mar 19, 2018 | Comm Center News
Regulators with the Federal Communications Commission said Rhode Island is one of several states now blocked from applying for some federal public safety grants due to its diversion of 911 fees to its general fund.
“In Rhode Island, 60 percent of the funding is going to other purposes, into your general fund,” FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly said.
O’Rielly is headed to Cranston for a 911 summit on Monday evening, organized by state Rep. Bob Lancia, a Republican who represents Cranston.
Lancia has introduced legislation to restrict 911 fees to public safety and to assess 911 needs statewide.
He confirmed that Rhode Island and other states where 911 fees on cell phone and landline bills are diverted to other uses were blocked from applying from the grant money by legislation late last year.
“Rhode Island could’ve gotten a piece of that money to upgrade 911 resources,” Lancia said in a YouTube video posted Friday.
“We have been collecting at least $15 million a year, yet only $5 million goes to 911,” Lancia said.
The FCC has notified Rhode Island in writing several times that fees collected for 911 services and technology should not be diverted to other purposes, including the state’s general fund.
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