Madison County Sheriff’s Office is making every second count for 9-1-1 callers (ID)

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – New life-saving services are coming to our 9-1-1 service in Madison County.

Calling 9-1-1 can mean a matter of life and death when it comes to saving a person’s life. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is making every second count.

They have formed an Emergency Medical Dispatch Response Committee. Dispatchers will be able to give life-saving directions over the phone before first responders arrive…

Controversy over regionalization continues, despite contract (MA)

HAMPDEN – Dispatch regionalization was again on the agenda at the Hampden Select Board’s Feb. 8 meeting.

A letter was signed by the Select Board to be sent to the Massachusetts State 911 office formally requesting the recognition of the new joint dispatch of Wilbraham and Hampden as a single public safety answering point (PSAP). This is an important step in becoming eligible for the state regionalization grants that will fund Hampden’s portion of dispatch costs for the next three years, with diminishing returns thereafter… READ MORE

Public Safety Spectrum Alliance – Is the Public at Risk?

by Karl Wilmes, Police Chief (Ret)

Public safety spectrum serves the mission critical communications needs of first responders charged with the protection of life and property, such as police, fire fighters and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers. The challenges facing public safety, specifically law enforcement in the 21st century are numerous. Therefore, the ruling by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for state-based licensing for public safety operations in the 4.9 GHz band is extremely disappointing and has the potential to be life threatening…

Testing Center Opens in Arkansas for Public Safety Job Seekers

Feb. 11, 2021 / PRZen / LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — National Testing Network, Inc. (NTN), the leader in recruitment support and employment test administration for public safety departments, announces a new testing location in Arkansas, in partnership with the The University of Arkansas of Little Rock, located at 2801 South University Avenue; Room 315 in Little Rock.

This new testing location will offer computer-based testing for entry-level firefighters, law enforcement officers, corrections officers, and emergency communications applicants applying for city, county, and state public safety agencies…

Public Safety Advocate: Broadband Interoperability? Z-Axis Location Services, CRDs, Spectrum

Public Safety Advocate: Broadband Interoperability? Z-Axis Location Services, CRDs, Spectrum

There is a lot going on during these early days of 2021. Broadband companies that did not bid on the FirstNet Request for Proposal are seeing how successful FirstNet is and want to change the rules late in the game; initial MegaRange™ drive tests are underway and a webinar is in the making; z-axis location technology is available; and now public-safety agencies are able to own or lease their own mini-emergency Band-14 cell sites.

Network Interoperability—Yet Again?

It seems every time FirstNet (Built with AT&T) releases updates or announces advances, other networks once again bring up broadband interoperability. Recently, FirstNet announced more network growth, new agencies, new subscribers, more Band-14 cell sites, and the addition of z-axis location that enables public-safety personnel to be located to within feet on the exact floor of a building…

Coral Gables packs public safety teams into new $68 million center (FL)

The City of Coral Gables has inaugurated its new, state-of-the-art public safety building, which is the new headquarters for the city’s police and fire departments. 

The 200,000-square-foot public safety building is also the home of the Emergency Operations Command Center, Fire Station 1, the 911 call center and first responders dispatch center, and the city’s communications and Information technology departments…