WASHINGTON, March 20, 2025 – Judges declined Wednesday to pause the Federal Communications Commission’s order giving AT&T’s FirstNet access to portions of the 4.9 GigaHertz band.“Movants have not satisfied the stringent requirements for a stay pending court review,” a three-judge panel from the D.C. Court of Appeals said in a unanimous order.The National Sheriff’s Association and San Francisco’s public transit agency, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), had asked judges to put the October 2024 order on hold while legal challenges play out.

Brandon McClintock has been named executive director of the Jasper County 911 dispatch center by the Jasper County Emergency Services board of directors.The board said McClintock has a 17-year history with the center and has extensive experience in emergency communication, strategic planning and public safety operations.“We are thrilled to welcome Brandon into this leadership role,” Greg Dagnan, chair of the Jasper County Emergency Services Board, said in a statement. “His deep understanding of our operations, commitment to excellence, and passion for serving our community make him the ideal choice to guide our emergency communications center into the future.”As executive director, McClintock will oversee the day-to-day operations of the 911 center.

The Minnesota House Public Safety Committee advanced a bill Wednesday that would require local law enforcement to report an individual arrested for a violent offense to ICE and to cooperate in data sharing with federal immigration authorities.

In emergency situations, people often fixate on the first responders’ arrival time, unaware of the critical steps that make this process quick and effective. A key factor is reliable, secure and uninterrupted public safety communications, which enable responders to coordinate efficiently and save lives.

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A former Executive Director of Salt Lake City 911 shared his firsthand experience with some of the challenges regarding Utah’s new statewide communications system.2News has been covering the reported issues from first responders involving the new system after learning of the ongoing radio failures and coverage concerns in the last few months.”This is just one of the cases, I just thought, ‘man, I told you so,” said Stephen Meyer, who worked at SLC 911 for roughly two years. “Anyone that was involved in the planning in this, could see this coming.”Meyer said Utah Communications Authority rolled out a previous statewide 9-1-1 system that was “plagued with problems. Meyer mentioned Salt Lake City planned to overhaul their own radio communications system at one point.”For Salt Lake, it made more sense for us to go it alone,” Meyer said. “Well UCA got involved and they threatened the city administration that they were going to come forward and go through the legislative process and basically force us to go with them if we don’t ‘play nice’.”Meyer said that Salt Lake City didn’t want to risk a loss of funding which resulted in the city moving forward with UCA’s new statewide radio project. Meyer says that he, along with the Salt Lake City police and fire chiefs objected to the move.”UCA has publicly threatened, publicly behind-the-scenes has threatened agencies with funding, political retribution, legislative action, if you don’t go along with them, they’re going to find a way to make you go along with them,” Meyer said. “For these agencies, especially the smaller ones, they don’t have the tax money coming in, they don’t have the dollars where they can make up for that loss of funding. Salt Lake City would have probably been able to figure it out.”Meyer has seen some of 2News’ coverage on the issues being reported by first responders and wanted to speak out.”I think anyone that would put these political decisions above the brave men and women who are out there protecting us, whether they’re on the fire side or the police side, they should be ashamed the way this project was handed,” Meyer said. “The system frankly shouldn’t have even been launched without better testing being done to make sure that these types of things weren’t going to happen.”Meyer believes the problems with the system could continue for ‘a while’, citing the scale of the system and the fixes required.Meyer, who joined SLC 911 in 2021, said he was terminated in 2023 over voicing concerns about various projects brought forward by communications departments and centers, including Salt Lake Valley Emergency Communications Center. “While I was on FMLA, I was terminated for not engaging with the other center,” Meyer said about his termination. “There are certain risks that we can’t control. We can’t control the bad guys with guns, we can’t control the structure fires, but we can control the radio issue,” Meyer said. “We can control the politics that gets involved and standing in the way of making these things go forward, right?” _____

Today’s complex environment presents school administrators and security professionals with a range of emergencies they must protect students, faculty, and staff against, from severe weather and unauthorized intruders to potential violent incidents.
Although high-profile, mass-casualty events often capture headlines, most emergencies in schools are smaller in scale, yet still require rapid and reliable responses. Two key technologies that bolster school safety are the Emergency Responder Radio Communication Systems (ERRCS) and the Public Safety Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS).
An ERRCS enables first responders to communicate through two-way radios (walkie-talkies) during an emergency. An ERRCS amplifies signals from local emergency radio towers throughout a building, while also boosting outgoing radio signals from the radios of individual emergency first responders.
RELATED: New Campus Emergency Communications Survey Highlights Advances in Mass Notification and Panic Alarm Systems
ERRCS and public safety DAS are both systems that improve communication, but they have different purposes. ERRCS is for emergency first responders, while DAS is for general mobile cellular communications within the school.
Together, these systems provide an integrated communication backbone that seamlessly integrates with other security systems to create proactive, resilient, and enterprise-wide security and safety capabilities. Traditional communication methods like Wi-Fi calling or cellular networks can falter during emergencies due to network overload. Dedicated systems like ERRCS and Public Safety DAS are designed to overcome these limitations. They ensure that first responders, school administrators, and security teams can communicate clearly and reliably, regardless of commercial network conditions.
In environments such as concrete buildings or underground garages where radio and cellular signals are typically weak, these systems are critical. Regulations by organizations like the NFPA and IFC mandate robust in-building coverage on UHF, VHF, and 700/800 MHz frequencies, underscoring the importance of dependable communication in life-critical scenarios.
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Understanding ERRCS and Public Safety DAS
So, what’s the difference between ERRCS and Public Safety DAS? Here’s a breakdown.
Emergency Responder Radio Communication System (ERRCS)
ERRCS is built primarily for first responders, offering a dedicated two-way radio channel that remains operational during emergency incidents. Unlike commercial networks, which may become congested or unreliable, ERRCS channels are prioritized so that emergency personnel can communicate without interruption. The ECCRS frequency channels that integrate fire and police first responder radios are totally separate from those frequencies that the local two-way radio communication system that the school has in place. ERRCS’ mission is to provide an unbreakable communication link when every second counts.
ERRCS standards are set by bodies such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to ensure that ERRCS installations meet strict criteria. For instance, NFPA 72 outlines requirements for design, installation, and maintenance so systems perform reliably even in challenging conditions.
Public Safety Distributed Antenna System (DAS)
While ERRCS strengthens first responder two-way radio communications capabilities at the school campus, public DAS strengthens cellular coverage for anyone with a cell phone. DAS works by distributing cellular frequencies and enhance signal strength through a grid network of strategically located antennas. This is particularly beneficial in large, multi-story school buildings or those with dense construction materials that may block or weaken cellular signals.
RELATED: Are Emergency Communications Systems Too Complicated for Real-World Incident Response?
A DAS amplifies and spreads the cellular signal throughout the school building to ensure that the school’s emergency personnel, administrators, educators, and staff maintain uninterrupted connectivity, even during emergencies when commercial cellular networks might be overloaded.
Real-Life Scenario: Swift Response to a Security Breach
Imagine a suburban high school where an unauthorized individual breaches a secured entry point. Without an integrated communication system, the response might be delayed, leading to greater risk and exposure to danger. If a school has an ERRCS in place, local law enforcement will be able to instantly coordinate their response when they arrive at the school campus.
A public safety DAS will also be able to maintain robust cellular coverage throughout the school building, allowing school administrators, teachers, and security staff to send critical updates to first responders as they make their way through the school to mitigate the breach. This type of coordinated response, integrated with real-time video surveillance and access control, can help to quickly contain the incident with minimal disruption to school operations.
Navigating a Severe Weather Event
Severe weather conditions can create chaotic conditions, challenging even the best-prepared schools. For example, a large school district might experience a sudden thunderstorm that results in localized power outages. Traditional commercial cellular networks might be overwhelmed with calling traffic, but schools equipped with public safety DAS would continue to receive strong reliable communications. This enables administrators to promptly issue mass notification messages through text, email, and voice alerts.
Simultaneously, ERRCS ensures that first responder law enforcement, fire department, and emergency personnel will be able coordinate their response at the school. The combination of ERRCS, DAS, and a school’s two-way radio systems will enable a swift and organized response to an emergency.
Building an Integrated Safety and Security Ecosystem
Modern school campuses require a multi-layered approach to security and safety. ERRCS and Public Safety DAS serve as foundational components that work in tandem with other security measures and systems to create a comprehensive safety and integrated enterprise-wide security program.
Key elements include:
Video Security: Continuous surveillance and real-time video analytics help monitor critical campus areas, gathering areas and circulation pathways. AI-powered systems can detect unusual behaviors or unauthorized individuals, enabling preemptive action.
Access Control: Secure entry systems combined with automated alerts ensure that only authorized personnel can have access to school premises. These systems can also integrate with emergency protocols to initiate a school-wide lockdown, to unlock doors for safe evacuations or to allow quick access for first responders.
Mass Notification Systems: In any emergency, clear communication is vital. Mass notification systems can deliver urgent alerts to staff, parents, and local authorities via text, email, and voice, ensuring everyone is informed in real time of not only what is happening and the nature of the emergency, but also what actions they should take.
Environmental Sensors: Sensors can be implemented to detect anomalies, such as sudden temperature changes, chemical leaks, or unusual sounds. These sensors can alert security personnel to potential threats before they escalate.

When these elements are unified on a single platform, schools become less reactive and more proactive at emergency management. Integrating security and communication technologies not only reduces risks, but they can improve the learning environment because administrators, teachers, and staff no longer need to worry about their ability to respond in an emergency — they can now focus on providing the best educational experience for their students. Security and safety have become an integral part of daily school operations.
Cost and Implementation Considerations
Investing in ERRCS and Public Safety DAS is more than a matter of regulatory compliance; it is a commitment to the ongoing safety of the school occupants and property. The cost of an ERRCS system can vary, typically ranging from $1 to $4 per square foot depending on building layout complexity, number of floors, and construction materials.
When planning implementation, schools should have professional consultants and communications contractors conduct a thorough assessment and develop a plan based on factors such as building layout, population density, construction materials, and potential radio frequency interference (RFI)/electromagnetic interference (EMI) sources. It is also critical to ensure that installation of the ERRCS and DAS comply with current standards like NFPA 72 (with updates like NFPA 1225 on the horizon) and FCC regulations to guarantee optimal performance during an emergency.
RELATED: 5 Key Features of An Effective School Communication System
Investing in an Emergency Responder Radio Communication System (ERRCS) on school campuses is a critical decision that offers substantial long-term benefits, including faster emergency response times, improved coordination among responders, and the potential to save lives.
While specific statistical data on ERRCS implementation in schools is limited, several key points underscore its importance:
ERRCS ensures that first responders can maintain seamless communication during crises
Many jurisdictions have adopted stringent fire and building codes mandating reliable in-building radio coverage for emergency responders
A significant number of U.S. schools have areas that do not meet building code requirements for minimum indoor radio signal strength

Addressing these gaps through ERRCS and public safety DAS installations at a school is essential for safety.
The Future of School Safety
As technology evolves, so do the tools available for improving school security and safety. The next generation of security, two-way school radio, ERRCS, and DAS systems will incorporate advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning data analytics, which will be able to predict and identify emerging threats before they fully develop. These proactive capabilities, combined with the robust unified communication networks at our schools, promise an even safer school environment.
Investing in these advanced security, safety and communications technologies should remain a top priority for school administrators. With enhanced predictive tools, school administrators, teachers, and staff can focus more on teaching and operating the building better, and less on reacting to emergencies.
Real-life scenarios have shown that when every element of a comprehensive enterprise security, safety and communications programs function together, response times improve, risks are minimized, and the overall environment becomes safer for everyone.

William Sako is a senior officer with Telgian Engineering & Consulting, a fire protection and security consulting company. He can be reached at his office at (847) 595-1160, his mobile phone at (847) 417-8023 or via his e-mail at [email protected].

NOTE: The views expressed by guest bloggers and contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, Campus Safety.

WATCH LIVE! Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Awards Ceremony at the Church of Viera. SPACE COAST DAILY TV: On Friday night, Sheriff Wayne Ivey and his Command Staff hosted the annual Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Awards Ceremony at the Church of Viera. Deputy of the...

If you’ve ever wanted to be the calming voice on the other side of a crisis call, now’s the opportunity. Raleigh-Wake Emergency Communications Center is looking for individuals ready to serve their community in times of distress. The Center has opened applications for its 911 Training Academy, inviting candidates to join the ranks of those crucial first points of contact during emergencies.For people looking to embark on a career of a significant impact, this could be the move. The academy, kicking off on June 12, is a 12 to 14 week dive into the skills necessary to manage critical situations over the phone. And here’s an enticing bit of info for job seekers—no prior experience is required. The job starts at a salary of $45,323.
Interested applicants have from today through April 6 to throw their hat into the ring. According to the release by the Raleigh Emergency Communications Center, the selection process includes a full background check, a job simulation, and an interview. This is to ensure that candidates are not only competent but also possess the emotional fortitude and quick-thinking capabilities needed for the role.
Those seeking more details or ready to submit their application can do so by visiting the official announcement on the City of Raleigh website.

Samsung Electronics America today announced that the Chicago Police Department deployed 10,000 Samsung Galaxy S series smartphones to its officers. The Chicago Police Department is using Samsung mobile devices to help modernize police work where officers need to process vast amounts of information while personally engaging with their communities. The Samsung smartphones each include Samsung DeX, which gives users the experience of working on a desktop by connecting a smartphone or tablet to an external display device such as a TV, monitor or PC.1 Samsung DeX enables officers to quickly pivot from mobile to desktop experiences inside their vehicles – all without needing to return to their stations.Samsung first partnered with the Chicago Police Department to launch a technology proof of concept in 2018. Under the expanded relationship, Samsung now provides mobile devices, Samsung DeX desktop experiences, and Samsung Knox security technologies for the city’s entire fleet of law enforcement, and has expanded to equip the Chicago Fire Department, as well. Today, Chicago’s police and firefighters rely upon Samsung technologies for secure information and communications as they protect and serve Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Giving Public Servants the Modern Mobile Tools They Need to Serve the Public
Chicago sought out technologies that would enable officers to engage with the people in their neighborhoods while reducing their time spent at desks processing paperwork. The Chicago Police Department is the second largest police force in the United States by sworn member size, with officers representing many ages and levels of experience, and the department needed to deploy a user-friendly technology that every person could use.
Paired with vehicle-mounted docks2, Samsung Galaxy smartphones proved to be the perfect modern solutions for officers. Moving from laptops to handheld devices enabled Chicago’s police to carry their tools everywhere, dramatically improving their ability to gather and access information in the field. “Thanks to Samsung DeX, we went from 3,000 vehicle-mounted laptops to around 10,000 Galaxy S-series phones that are now either assigned to officers or in a specific vehicle daily,” said Dennis Baliga, Deputy Director of IT Infrastructure, City of Chicago’s Office of Public Safety Administration.
The Chicago Fire Department chose Galaxy Tab tablets with unified mounts, using Samsung DeX in Vehicle to provide the same consistent desktop experience when connecting tablets to in-vehicle displays. Firefighters know that they’ll see the same desktop interface regardless of whether they are in a fire truck on the South Side or North Side of the city.

Samsung Technologies Are Improving Efficiency and Streamlining User Experiences
Using Samsung Knox Suite – Samsung’s enterprise-grade security platform – technology teams can design the mobile and desktop interfaces they want users to see on their devices, streamlining access to critical and secure applications. Better yet, Samsung Knox makes device setup fast. The Chicago Police Department reduced the amount of time spent provisioning a phone by 75%, compared with three years ago, saving the city’s teams countless hours.
“Between our Galaxy devices, Knox Suite, and Samsung DeX, they are really increasing efficiency and improving their cost savings,” said Todd Maxwell, Samsung U.S. Director of Business Development.
With custom configuration, Samsung devices enable officers to quickly access a wealth of specialized information directly from the field.

“Our Galaxy devices allow us access to state and local databases, city licensing and permitting, so at a special event, I’m able to check the parameters of a special event permit. We also have access to specific applications, like the Department of Transportation hazmat guide. Instead of carrying a big book that is inches thick and several pounds, I have an app on my phone. And I can access city service requests. If I need to report a pothole or traffic lights out, I can do it right from the phone,” explained Aaron Levine, Chicago Police Department Entertainment Venue Team Sergeant.
Samsung Knox also offers unparalleled device security – a must-have for officers who routinely handle sensitive data in the field.
“We trust the partnership we have with Samsung. As officers run people’s names, run their license plates, and are also logging into their systems, we have to worry about security like data leaks and HIPAA information. We are confident in Knox security. It ensures that they can do their job safely and securely,” said Dan Sullivan, Electrical Mechanic, City of Chicago’s Office of Public Safety Administration.
Supporting The Future of Public Safety and Services

From the versatile mobile-to-desktop transitions powered by DeX to the streamlined yet powerful and secure customizations enabled by Knox, Samsung equips public agencies and organizations with the technologies they need to meet modern challenges – from their offices and in the field. Samsung is dedicated to continually improving its products to support customers with cutting-edge innovations that precisely meet their needs.
The Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department’s successful implementation of Samsung’s solutions are already changing the way public servants interact with their communities, better preparing officers and firefighters to meet today’s neighborhood challenges. Samsung is continuing to develop tools that will improve communications, and outcomes for an even wider range of public agencies throughout the United States.
For more information about Samsung DeX, please visit https://www.samsung.com/us/apps/dex/
For more information about Samsung Knox, please visit https://www.samsungknox.com/

Control rooms  |   Narrowband  |   Broadband  |   Video  |  2025-03-17

Caltta shares it’s take on how The Jinan Public Safety Department of the capital city of Shandong Province in China is leading the charge, embracing cutting-edge emergency communication solutions to enhance its operational effectiveness.

Caltta shares how the Jinan Public Safety Department of the capital city of Shandong Province in China is leading the charge, embracing cutting-edge emergency communication solutions to enhance its operational effectiveness. At the heart of this transformation is Caltta’s Integrated Communication Platform—a game-changing system that not only modernizes emergency response but also revolutionizes command and dispatch operations, making resource deployment more precise, scientific, and effective.
A New Standard in Emergency Communication: The ‘Four Networks and Four Platforms’ Architecture
Caltta has pioneered an industry-first architecture, constructing an integrated communication platform that brings together four key network levels: Public Safety Information Network, Mobile Information Network, Video Perception Network, and LTE Private Network
This multi-network integration ensures seamless data transmission and resource sharing, enabling faster decision-making and real-time coordination. Advanced network security protocols provide reliable, secure communication across different systems, allowing independent yet interconnected operations.
In complex and dynamic public safety scenarios, each network functions independently while working in unison, ensuring that information flows smoothly and command dispatch remains highly efficient.
Seven Core Capabilities: Redefining Public Safety Command & Dispatch

Cross-System Voice Trunking – Enables real-time interoperability between different communication systems, ensuring smooth coordination among public safety departments.
Cross-System Video Dispatch – Integrates video feeds from drones, body cams, surveillance networks, and more, giving commanders instant situational awareness.
Cross-System Joint Meetings – Officers can initiate or join meetings from any device, anywhere, breaking the limitations of time and location.
Comprehensive Recording & Documentation – Secure voice and video recordings provide reliable case-tracking and accountability, ensuring compliance and transparency.
Map-Based Command & Dispatch – A visualized PGIS system displays real-time personnel deployment and event locations, enabling strategic resource allocation.
Cross-System Multimedia Services – Supports the exchange of text, images, and video, ensuring rich, real-time information sharing.
Mobile Command & Dispatch – Officers can access the platform via a mobile app, receiving assignments and updating statuses in real-time, improving on-the-go responsiveness.

Open Architecture: Unlocking Advanced Public Safety Applications
Caltta’s platform isn’t just a powerful communication tool—it’s a foundation for innovation. Through open APIs, the platform seamlessly integrates with upper-level applications such as Command and Control Systems, Smart Security Platforms, and Joint Operations Networks to achieve smarter, faster, more fffective operations.

Enhanced Command & Control – Voice commands can be delivered directly from the control center to field officers with unmatched precision, improving response times.
Integrated Smart Security – Live video feeds from incident locations can be instantly relayed to command centers, allowing proactive surveillance and real-time threat assessment.
Seamless Interdepartmental Coordination – Different public safety units can collaborate effortlessly, breaking geographic and operational barriers through cross-system video conferencing and voice communications.This next-generation approach ensures that no threat goes unnoticed, and no emergency goes unanswered.

Building a Seamless Communication Network: Total Resource Integration
The Jinan Public Safety Department has invested heavily in advanced communication and surveillance technologies, including Drones and body-worn cameras, Mobile terminals and satellite systems, PGIS (Public Geographic Information System), Video conferencing and surveillance systems, 350MHz digital trunking and LTE broadband trunking systems, Portable devices and PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network).
Caltta’s Integrated Communication Platform brings all these components together into one unified system, ensuring real-time, uninterrupted information exchange—whether in a high-density urban setting or a remote emergency zone.
By eliminating communication blind spots, public safety teams can respond faster and with greater accuracy, improving situational awareness and mission coordination.
The Future of Public Safety: Intelligent, Connected, and Data-Driven
Thanks to Caltta’s Integrated Communication Platform, the Jinan Public Safety Department now operates with greater precision, intelligence, and efficiency than ever before.
As technologies like 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics continue to evolve, public safety operations are poised for a new wave of digital transformation.
Caltta remains at the forefront of this revolution, driving continuous innovation to support smarter, faster, and more resilient public safety solutions. By transforming the latest communication technologies into real-world solutions, Caltta is empowering law enforcement and emergency responders with the tools they need to protect and serve their communities more effectively than ever before.

A University of Cincinnati Emergency Communications Dispatcher recently received an award from Rave Mobile Safety for her use of an emergency alert in locating a missing child.
On Jan. 12, 2025, a fire alarm went off in Tangeman University Center. As officers were ensuring everyone had safely exited the building, a UC staff member told officers that his 6-year-old child could not be found.
UC Emergency Communications Dispatcher Kylee Beccaccio contacted the lieutenant on duty and told him that she had an emergency alert ready to send campuswide about the missing child.
“I was inspired to request permission to send the emergency alert because of the training I received. Emergency alerts can be used in many ways, and this is a very good example of how we use it. When I sent the alert out Cincinnati Police called and told me that they were sending extra units to help us,” Beccaccio said.
Within 20 minutes, the child was located and reunited with the child’s father. The emergency alert, sent via Rave Alert, the system that UC Public Safety uses to send emergency alerts, helped officers located the child so quickly.
“This was a very good feeling knowing the more the merrier. CPD made contact with the lost child which then felt a very good sign of relief,” Beccaccio said.
The Rave SmartSave Award recognizes those who use Rave products in a way that positively impacts an emergency call and/or response. This is the third time a UC emergency communications dispatcher has received a SmartSave award.
“This is a good example of using a tool in a unique way in a unique situation. We rarely deal with missing kids outside of football games, so alerting as many people as possible is harder than just a football announcement. With an alert, Kylee was able to notify a huge amount of people in the area all at once, whether they were inside or outside since it went to text, signage and desktops,” said Ted Langdon, Emergency Communications Manager. “I feel that it shows quick thinking and understanding of the resources we have available to help the community as rapidly as possible.”
Featured image at top: From left, UC Public Safety Director and Chief of Police Eliot Isaac, Emergency Communications Dispatcher Kylee Beccaccio and Emergency Communications Manager Ted Langdon pose with Beccaccio’s SmartSave Award. Photo by Kelly Cantwell.

WASHINGTON (7News) — D.C. leaders and public safety advocates are closely watching the U.S. House of Representatives, as they are considering a bill that restores more than $1 billion to the city’s budget that was cut in the spending bill Congress had to approve to avert a government shutdown.Ahead of the vote on the spending bill, city leaders went to Capitol Hill multiple times this week to talk lawmakers into getting rid of the measure that cuts D.C.’s spending.Mayor Muriel Bowser and others warned this could lead to tens of millions of dollars being cut from key public safety and education services, including almost $4 million from D.C.’s Office of Unified Communications (OUC), which runs the 911 call center.Dave Statter, who is a public safety advocate and a long-time watchdog of OUC, told 7News this cut could kneecap an agency that has already been hobbling —in the eyes of critics— for the past year.”With this bill, essentially what is happening is they’re defunding the police, fire, EMS, and 911 and other important agencies that make the difference between life and death in the city,” Statter said. “It’s probably somewhere near a 5 % cut in their operating budget. “They’re already having problems filling positions. They’ve apparently done better in hiring more people. I’d hate there to be a setback. Having effective leadership has been the big problem in OUC, but if you cut 3-to-5 % of their budget, that’s not a good sign for OUC.”The 7News I-Team has reported at least eight technical incidents with the 911 call center since May 2024, which is less than a year ago.Just this past week, as lawmakers debated the spending bill that included the cut to the nation’s capital, there were two concerning incidents at OUC.Last Sunday, there were a number of calls that went unanswered by dispatch over a five-minute period.Just days later, on Wednesday, OUC reported a 12-minute interference issue that resulted from a faulty antenna located in a different building in the city.The agency released the following statement for the Wednesday incident:Earlier today (Wednesday, March 12, 2025), the Office of Unified Communications (OUC) shared information related to an unauthorized remote user that caused interference with OUC’s radio system relied on by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The incident investigation, conducted by OUC and the Federal Communications Commission, has concluded. There was no malice associated with the incident as it was caused by a faulty bi-directional antenna located in a building within the District. Installers are working to correct the issue. This morning, the radio system was impacted for approximately 12 minutes and there was no total loss of service. Property owners and managers should familiarize themselves with bi-directional antenna requirements for the District of Columbia.Statter said he worries issues at OUC will only get worse if the cuts to the city’s budget remain.”Taking this money away will make it worse. It will impact 911. They won’t have the money to hire people, probably. They likely won’t have to money for all of the overtime that’s necessary to keep those seats filled 24/7,” Statter said. “If you don’t have the money for training, if you don’t have the money to have people answer the phones promptly, people will get delayed calls, they’ll get people who aren’t trained well enough. They already have that problem.”City leaders and Statter may have suffered some whiplash Friday night.That night, the Senate approved the spending bill as-is, keeping the D.C. budget cut in.However, immediately after, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, introduced a standalone bill to undo the funding cut from the spending bill.”This bill would simply fix a mistake in the House CR that prevents the District of Columbia from spending its own tax dollars as part of its budget, which Congress routinely approves,” Collins said. “As a result, unless this bill is passed, D.C. would have to operate under its fiscal year ’24 budget for the remainder of 25, potentially requiring $1.1 billion in local spending cuts. Reducing D.C.’s local funding expenditures will not result in a dollar of federal savings.”The Senate passed the bill to restore D.C.’s funding, and it now awaits a vote in the House.Collins said the bill has been endorsed by President Donald Trump and U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., who is the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations.Until the House approves the standalone bill, the District is still technically short more than $1 billion from the budget with only half of the fiscal year left to go.7News On Your Side asked OUC how any cuts to the agency could affect service. A spokesperson deferred to Mayor Bowser’s office.A spokesperson from the mayor’s office provided a statement saying, “We remain hopeful that our partners in Congress will get it fixed this week. We sent a balanced budget to Congress last year, they approved it, and we have been operating under this budget for nearly six months.”7News On Your Side also reached out to the D.C. Office of the Chief Financial Officer, asking the following questions:Until the standalone bill fully passes, is your office preparing what cuts and/or layoffs to make?Have cuts or layoffs already been made?If the standalone bill does not pass, how soon will your office begin funding cuts and layoffs?A spokesperson provided the following statement in response:There is no need to take immediate action. However, we are prepared to work with the Mayor and Council to take the necessary steps if the final bill is not approved.The House is scheduled to reconvene on the floor on Tuesday.Until then, there may be a great deal of breath-holding across the District.”The people who are going to suffer when they take money away from OUC is the public. Ultimately, they’re the ones who hurt when 911 isn’t operating properly,” Statter said. “And it also impacts the people who perform public safety out in the field: police, firefighters, EMTs. 911 is also their life safety line, and if they don’t have the people in the seats – the dispatchers, particularly, right now they’re very shorthanded – they’re not going to get the help they need when they’re in an emergency.”

COMMERCE CITY, Colo.—The Monitoring Association (TMA) has announced that the Adams County Communications Center Authority (ADCOM911) has completed implementation of the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP) Service.

ADCOM911 went live with the service on March 4, becoming the 149th emergency communications center (ECC) in the U.S. and fourth in Colorado to adopt the ASAP program

The ECC dispatches emergency services for multiple law-enforcement agencies, including the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Brighton Police Department, Commerce City Police Department, and Northglenn Police Department, as well as multiple fire districts and departments.

The decision to implement ASAP Service was driven by ADCOM911’s desire to reduce the number of incoming calls to its ECC from alarm-notification centers; it also wanted to minimize human typing errors and accelerate call-processing times. The adoption of ASAP Service will enhance emergency-response efforts significantly by streamlining the transmission of alarm data directly from alarm-monitoring centers to ECCs (also known as 911 centers), eliminating the need for verbal relay of information and ensuring greater accuracy and speed.

“ADCOM911 is excited to announce the implementation of ASAP Service. ADCOM911 is striving constantly to improve our service to the community, and this application will aid us in that endeavor as it streamlines the dispatch process, shortens response times, and greatly assists in saving lives and property,” said Joel Estes, ADCOM911’s director.

In 2024, ADCOM911 handled approximately 12,000 alarm calls, an increase from 11,500 alarm calls in 2023. The agency also managed more than 170,000 emergency calls and 500,000 total calls, dispatching more than 300,000 service requests last year. As the population served by ADCOM911 continues to experience significant growth, the integration of ASAP Service is a crucial step toward ensuring public-safety communications keep pace with increasing demands.

ADCOM911’s ASAP Service implementation is supported by the following alarm companies: ADS, ADT, Affiliated, Alert 360, Brinks Home Monitoring, Dynamark, EverOn, Guardian Protection, National Monitoring Center, Rapid Response Monitoring Services, Security Central, Securitas, Tyco/JCI, United Central Control, Vector Security, and Vivint.

Since its launch in 2011, ASAP Service has been helping ECCs reduce the time it takes to dispatch emergency responders by an average of two minutes for alarm- and sensor-generated calls initiated by alarm-monitoring centers. By delivering information directly to an ECC’s computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system and automatically creating a call for service without human interaction, ASAP Service is reducing time to action, workload, and human errors to improve emergency-response outcomes. ASAP Service utilizes American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard protocols developed cooperatively by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and TMA.

Learn more about how TMA’s ASAP Service saves lives every day nationwide at www.ASAP911.org.