by ECC Editor | Oct 25, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News, Uncategorized
Last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) entered into Consent Decrees with eight Covered 911 Service Providers for failing to timely file their required 911 reliability certification in 2020.
The Rules
As background, the FCC adopted rules in 2013 aimed at improving 911 network reliability. The rules require Covered 911 Service Providers (“Providers”) to take certain measures to provide reliable 911 service. The specific measures adopted by the agency attempt to address three network vulnerabilities identified by the FCC in the aftermath of the derecho storm that knocked out 911 service along the east coast in 2012… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | Oct 25, 2021 | Comm Center News
During the Pike County Fiscal Court meeting on Oct. 19, Pike County Emergency Management Director Doug Tackett informed the court that his department had been turned down by the National Homeland Security and by Kentucky Homeland Security for grants to upgrade the communication system used by emergency responders.
“We have not received any letter yet from the Kentucky Homeland Security as to why we were turned down for the grant,” Tackett said. “We are expecting a letter from them in the next few days with that explanation…
by AllThingsECC.com | Oct 25, 2021 | Comm Center News
An Allentown man and his 14-year-old nephew died in a fire in July 2020 because a Lehigh County 911 dispatcher did not understand his pleas for help in Spanish and hung up the call, a federal lawsuit by a group of former dispatchers alleges.
The seven supervisors and dispatchers who say they were fired for reporting mismanagement in the dispatch center also allege they saw dispatchers and supervisors sleeping on the job, doing outside work, watching movies so loudly they drowned out emergency communications, playing cornhole during working hours and other misconduct. In another instance, a dispatcher missed emergency calls related to shootings because he went to the roof of the county administration building to watch fireworks, the suit says.
The lawsuit alleges Spanish-speaking callers were often denied help because some 911 dispatchers said they “do not like taking calls from Spanish people”… READ MORE
by ECC Editor | Oct 25, 2021 | Comm Center News
MARATHON COUNTY, Wis. (WAOW)– A new cell tower is bringing new opportunities to rural Wisconsin.
Marathon County partnered with Bug Tussel, a wireless high-speed internet provider to bring a new cell tower to Little Chicago.
“This tower in Little Chicago is important because its area was identified as a critical area,” said John Robinson, board member for Marathon County. ”Due to the lack of internet access and in some cases failing landlines that were old and people couldn’t call 9-1-1 service.”
The Little Chicago tower will impact those within five miles… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | Oct 24, 2021 | Comm Center News
SACRAMENTO, CA – “There’s somebody trying to break into my house, it looks like one person, please send someone,” said a frantic Sacramento County resident during a recent 911 call.
Every year, more than 850,000 calls are made to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, where dispatchers work 10-hour shifts four days a week at the call center.
However, the department is faced with a challenge other communities across the country are facing in call centers. The department is working on limited staff…
by AllThingsECC.com | Oct 24, 2021 | Comm Center News
Delta’s police department is hoping to eventually set up its own dispatch service for non-urgent emergency calls – if a couple of stumbling blocks could be cleared.
During a discussion about E-Comm at the Delta Police Board on Wednesday, Oct. 20, Chief Neil Dubord noted options to alleviate delays are being considered as dispatch wait times have become a major concern throughout the province.
The DPD established service standards for E-Comm to answer 88 per cent of emergency calls within 10 seconds and 80 per cent of non-emergency calls within three minutes…
