RapidDeploy and Western Fire Chiefs Association Announce Strategic Partnership

by AllThingsECC.com | May 31, 2021 | Comm Center News, Press Release

“WFCA’s storied history of grappling with the many hazards associated with the Western states’ unique environment and geography will bring unparalleled perspective for the team at RapidDeploy,” RapidDeploy CEO Steve Raucher said. “Our new alliance will offer an incredible opportunity for our platform’s evolution as we look to serve the fire and EMS communities with new features and technologies in the months and years to come.”

Today, RapidDeploy serves over 550 9-1-1 centers in California and Arizona, and its alliance with WFCA is expected to drive more adoption across the Association’s territory…

APCO Applauds FCC Action on 4.9 GHz Public Safety Spectrum

by AllThingsECC.com | May 31, 2021 | Comm Center News, Press Release

Alexandria, VA – Today the Federal Communications Commission adopted an order staying – or suspending – provisions of its rules for the 4.9 GHz spectrum band that would permit licensing of the spectrum for commercial purposes. This action is responsive to requests from the public safety community and warnings that the recent changes to the 4.9 GHz rules would cause problems for emergency communications.

In September 2020, a majority of the FCC – over the objections of then-Commissioner Rosenworcel and Commissioner Starks – approved an order that opened the door to stripping the 4.9 GHz spectrum from public safety. The majority took this action despite significant opposition expressed by multiple major public safety associations including APCO…

Public Safety Next Generation 9-1-1 Coalition Launches Major Grassroots Campaign

by ECC Editor | Mar 18, 2021 | Comm Center News, Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT
March 18, 2021 Captain Mel Maier
(248) 858-1645

On the heels of the introduction of important legislation to fund the modernization of the nation’s 9-1-1 systems to Next Generation 9-1-1, the Public Safety Next Generation 9-1-1 Coalition announces the launch of a wide-ranging grassroots campaign to educate policymakers
and build additional support.

The Public Safety Next Generation 9-1-1 Coalition consists of national public safety associations representing law enforcement, fire, EMS, and 9-1-1 professionals who know best what is needed to modernize 9-1-1 and improve emergency response. The coalition’s website at www.ng-911coalition.org contains detailed information including facts and myths about NG9-1-1 legislation.

The Coalition helped develop and fully supports the Next Generation 9-1-1 legislation that was included in the LIFT America Act with the leadership of Representatives Frank Pallone and Anna Eshoo. The Coalition’s approach is to secure the best outcome for public safety professionals and the communities they serve as they carry out their life-saving missions. Accordingly, the Coalition believes that this legislation is deserving of widespread bipartisan support throughout Congress.

Unfortunately, some parties that disagree with the Coalition’s public safety-oriented principles are spreading misinformation about the legislation. Contrary to those opposed to the Coalition’s public safety focused approach, the NG9-1-1 legislation the Coalition supports will:

• Not only build upon current investments but rescue public safety agencies from being left with overly costly, substandard, incomplete, and non-interoperable solutions. This includes ensuring that existing deployments can become interoperable with new implementations.
• Ensure that technology standards prevalent in the consumer marketplace, and which have led to enormous innovation, interoperability, and economies of scale, are employed for NG9-1-1.
• Ensure that other standards that vendors desire to use have the approval of a well-recognized standards development accreditation body. This is important for avoiding the use of one-off “standards” that result in proprietary and non-interoperable solutions.
• Adhere to the cybersecurity protections for 9-1-1 recommended by an esteemed federal advisory committee. This consists of an efficient, distributed network of cybersecurity centers at state or regional levels serving multiple 9-1-1 centers.
• Create a well-rounded, balanced, and efficient advisory board composed of a cross-section of public safety professionals to provide initial and ongoing expertise to the federal agency responsible for administering the grant program.
• Not only preserve state and local control of NG9-1-1 operations but ensure that diverse local public safety input is fully accounted for in all NG9-1-1 plans and grant applications.

The Coalition is solely motivated by what is needed by public safety professionals as they carry out their missions to save and protect the public every day. The Coalition appreciates the federal commitment to fund the transition to NG9-1-1 and respects the need to ensure that federal funds are expended in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. Our grassroots
effort will serve to express our support for the NG9-1-1 legislation, educate and, when necessary, dispel any misconceptions.

#

Next Generation 9-1-1 Included in House Infrastructure Bill

by ECC Editor | Mar 15, 2021 | Comm Center News, Press Release

The Public Safety Next Generation 9-1-1 Coalition recently released a press release applauding the introduction of the Next Generation 9-1-1 Act of 2021 as part of the LIFT America Act. The inclusion of Next Generation 9-1-1 in the legislation signals that Congress recognizes the critical importance of upgrading our nation’s outdated, underfunded and technologically inadequate 911 infrastructure.  The Coalition thanks House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone and Congressional Next Gen 9-1-1 Caucus Co-Chair Anna Eshoo for their tireless efforts to help build the capacity of our nation’s first responders to serve and protect all communities across America. You can read the press release here.