Comm Center News
Weld County Regional Communications Center Earns Top Honor (CO)
The Weld County Regional Communications Center has been recognized as the nation’s best public safety answering point by NICE Public Saftey for their accomplishments, skills, and dedication to public safety. The 2020 PSAP’S Finest Award is the second consecutive...
County awarded $250000 CDBG grant to replace failing emergency communications system (TN)
The problems plaguing Hawkins County’s failing emergency communications system may be nearing an end, as the County Commission ‘okayed’ a budget amendment at their September meeting that allots money for the $425,000 analogue replacement system. In addition, the...
Carteret County plans 911 dispatch center renovations (NC)
MOREHEAD CITY — Carteret County has plans to renovate the 911 emergency communications center located within the Morehead City Police Department, the first major update planned for the dispatch center since it was established more than a decade ago. The County...
Ballot Measure Promises Financial Stability, Streamlined Operations for County 911 Center (MT)
The center’s 911 director and other advocates say a new tax on homeowners in Flathead County is essential to sustain operations at the Flathead Emergency Communications Center and support effective radio communication systems for first responders, a similar plea to...
Councilors approve $3.6 million public safety radio system (MA)
Residents were invited to participate in the meeting, but none spoke. QUINCY — Police Chief Paul Keenan and Fire Chief Joe Jackson say the $3.6 million upgrade to the city’s emergency communications system approved by councilors Monday is “vital” for the function of...
Wayne County switches to new integrated 911 dispatch system (IN)
RICHMOND, Ind. — Activity Friday afternoon inside Wayne County's Emergency Communications Center seemed completely normal as dispatchers answered calls. The last time Friday's day crew worked, however, was anything but normal. At 9:04 a.m. Tuesday, a new...
Public Safety Communications Legislation Blocked in the US Senate
Today the U.S. Senate failed to pass H.R. 451, the Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act. This legislation would prevent the auction of public safety spectrum in the T-Band (470 MHz - 512 MHz). It also would prevent states from diverting 9-1-1 fees to other purposes. Section...
FirstNet expands responder communications in Sawyer area (ND)
SAWYER – First responders in Sawyer are getting a major boost in their wireless communications with the addition of a new FirstNet cell site, according to AT&T. This new infrastructure is a part of the FirstNet Network expansion taking place across the state,...
Can’t call? Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office announces start of Text-to-9-1-1 (AZ)
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and its law enforcement partners throughout the county have announced that a “Text-to-9-1-1” service is now available countywide. Partnering agencies include police departments in Clarkdale, Jerome, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino...
Dispatch center shows off makeover; new radios are coming (TX)
The City of Brownwood’s 9-1-1 dispatch center has received a makeover. While the makeover so far has consisted of morale-boosting aesthetics — in the form of new carpet and new, modern consoles at the dispatchers’ work stations — new radios that will be installed next...
The FirstNet Network Expands Across Georgia to Advance Public Safety Communications Capabilities
Georgia’s first responders are getting a major boost in their wireless communications with the addition of new, purpose-built FirstNet(link is external) cell sites supporting 11 counties across the state. Plus, high-quality Band 14 spectrum has been added to more than...
Text-to-9-1-1 now available in Placer County (CA)
Sending a text to 911 is now available in Placer County. Text-to-9-1-1 is available to Placer residents and individuals traveling through the county. According to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, the text function provides a life-saving option to speech- and...
County Commission focuses on purchases and grant applications during regular action session Thursday (KS)
Lyon County Commissioners approved a number of purchase requests during their regular action session Thursday morning. First on the agenda was a request from Lyon County Emergency Communications Center Director Roxanne Van Gundy to consider the payment of the county's...
Dupo, Ill. couple called 911 four times as shirtless man ransacked their garage. Officers never arrived (IL)
Imagine calling 911 and no one ever shows up. It happened to a local couple when a weapon-wielding stranger ransacked their garage and wandered around their yard for hours. They called 911 four times, but no officer ever arrived. Rose and Joe Everett's peaceful place...
Text-to-911 comes to Pinal County (AZ)
As of today, text-to-9-1-1 is available to all residents of Pinal County. This allows people in need of emergency services to reach first responders via text when voice calling is not an option, according to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. The primary use of...
DHS funds risk assessment modeling tool development
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program has awarded $1.96 million to a pair of businesses to aid emergency communication network risk management assessments. Orem, Utah-based Achilles Heel Technologies and...
Motorola Solutions’ CommandCentral Citizen Input Is Available to the US Public Safety Market
Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) today announced that it has made a new service available to the public safety market -- CommandCentral Citizen Input -- which is designed to help 9-1-1 call takers to better engage with citizens in their time of need. Citizen Input is a...
Building meaningful public safety partnerships—one engagement at a time
By David Buchanan, Executive Director of Public Safety Advocacy, FirstNet Authority
Last year saw the release of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Roadmap, the launch of network investment planning, and significant buildout of the network. It also saw a renewed commitment from our FirstNet Authority team of expert public safety advisors to engage with public safety and improve, expand, and bring innovation to FirstNet.
Through targeted engagements, our team has been working to better understand public safety’s technical and operational broadband needs and how FirstNet is impacting public safety operations today. Since January, our team has taken part in more than 900 in-person and virtual engagements, meeting with nearly 21,000 public safety stakeholders from across the country. Whether engaging in person or virtually, we have received recommendations and ideas to positively influence the FirstNet network’s path forward. READ MORE
FCC vote to expand use of 4.9 GHz, despite public safety’s protests
The Federal Communications Commission has voted along party lines to expand the use of the 4.9 GHz band, over objections from public safety users. The 4.9 GHz spectrum, which consists of 50 megahertz (4.940-4.990 GHz), was designated for exclusive use by public safety...
9-1-1 Texting is now an option in Allegany County (MD)
Research shows that nearly 6 billion text messages are sent every day in the United States, more than 2.2. trillion per year. SMS or text messaging has become a way of primary communication for many people to communicate. With this change, emergency communications...
Upcoming Webinar
4.9 GHz Band: Review of the FCC Order
On October 22, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) released its Eighth Report and Order (Eighth R&O) regarding utilization of the 4940-4990 MHz (4.9 GHz) band that protects incumbent users as requested by us, the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA). This Eighth R&O addresses a number of issues related to the use of this band by public safety. Please join us for a briefing on this order and how it impacts public safety.
This presentation will be led by Chief Jeff Johnson (ret) and Attorney Jason Karp, one of the nation’s leading experts in public safety spectrum regulations.
REGISTER
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