BOULDER, Colo. – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has launched a new prize competition to advance the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in first responder search and rescue operations.
Named the First Responder UAS Triple Challenge, this prize competition comprises three challenges with three different focus areas – all aimed at advancing UAS technology to support critical, lifesaving missions. NIST’s Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) division will accept contest entries beginning Aug. 2, 2021, with multiple stages running through June 2022…
JOPLIN, Mo. — The City of Joplin’s computer system is down causing online services to be unavailable to the public. As City staff works on this issue please note the following service changes during this time:
City phones are not working as system is internet based. The 9-1-1 system is still operational.
Online payments for utilities (trash and sewer) bill or court fines cannot be made. Citizens can still make payments in person with a check or cash…
VSBLTY and RapidSOS have announced a new collaboration to provide first responders and 911 telecommunicators with the ability to access biometrics and other incident data from VSBLTY’s Vector software via RapidSOS.
The data will include immediate weapons detection, facial recognition classifying persons of interest (POI), sworn officers, suspects, victims, and bystanders, as well as license plate recognition at crime sites.
Also, caller health and medical information, connected building and alarm data, and other information first responders can leverage to minimize the impact of an incident…
‘We do have a life-safety issue when the volunteers don’t get the calls’
At the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors’ monthly meeting on Wednesday afternoon, the board discussed the impacts of the county’s lack of adequate telecommunications infrastructure on public safety, including issues with radio communication and phone service.
Scott Tangeman, director of public safety at L3Harris — the contracted system that the county’s fire-and-rescue services use to communicate with each other — came to address some of the concerns mentioned at the board’s previous meeting…
Newswise — Washington, D.C. – Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) technology will allow responders and the public to employ real-time text, images, video, and voice calls during emergencies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program recently awarded $997,526.67 to San Antonio, Texas-based small business SecureLogix to secure that data against increased cyber threats.
“While NG9-1-1 technologies will enhance the current capabilities of today’s 911 systems by enabling multimedia sharing and connectivity, we must ensure these critical emergency response networks remain resilient and reliably operational,”said Kathryn Coulter Mitchell, DHS Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology…
The Cumberland County Emergency 911 District Board of Directors approved a new salary schedule management says will make the agency better able to recruit and retain dispatchers.
“This payroll structure will put us ahead of Roane County,” Terry Williams, director of operations, told the board during its June 22 meeting. “It will put us at the 75th percentile in Tennessee and 90th percentile among our competition and is competitive with businesses in Cumberland County.”
But the pay increase — from just under $14 an hour to $19.50 an hour starting pay — struck some board members as too much, too fast…
Learn about current efforts to continue to protect the 4.9 GHz Band for public safety as well as recent filings, key decisions impacting these efforts, and how you can support PSSA’s initiative to protect the 4.9 GHz band for public safety.
